The Government is still identifying possible sites to be  designated as public activity areas for public meetings during the World Trade Organisation Sixth Ministerial Conference, Hong Kong Ministerial Conference Co-ordination Office Head Janet Wong says.

Speaking on a radio talk show today, Ms Wong urged groups that wish to hold public meetings during the conference period to submit applications early for the Government to consider.

A meeting has been scheduled on October 8 for discussions with representatives of groups planning to hold activities during the meeting.

Ms Wong said the Government will continue to maintain a dialogue with non-governmental organisations and other groups to help facilitate their requests to express their views orderly and peacefully.

She said an interdepartmental committee has been formed to consider the applications. She stressed all applications have to be considered together.

She said the Government will continue to keep the public informed of the preparations made for the conference, adding briefings will be conducted in the months ahead for different districts and sectors.

MC6 to raise Hong Kong's profile

About 11,000 participants from all over the world are expected to attend the conference at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre in Wanchai from December 13 to 18 this year.

Special traffic, crowd control and security arrangements will be introduced prior and during the conference period, in particular in the vicinity of the Convention & Exhibition Centre, she said.

Ms Wong said the hosting of the conference underlines Hong Kong's active and constructive participation in the WTO and raises Hong Kong's international profile as a bastion of free trade.