Police have rounded up about 900 protesters after demonstrations turned violent and 70 people were sent to hospital.

When demonstrations turned ugly at about 4pm yesterday, Police turned water hoses on the crowds who were attacking them with sharp objects and snatching their protective shields.

Several hours later, around 7pm, the violence escalated, prompting Police to use pepper-powder and smoke grenades. In the melee, 70 people were injured, including 60 men and 10 women. They were sent to hospitals for treatment.

Sixty-three had been treated and discharged, three had been admitted to hospital, and four were being treated in the accident and emergency department as of 11:30 last night.

Ten Police officers were among the injured, including six Police women. They were all treated and discharged.

Stay away from Wanchai

Speaking at a 9:30pm press briefing on the second-last day of the WTO's Sixth Ministerial Conference, Commissioner of Police Dick Lee urged people to stay away from Wanchai, and to contact any friends and relatives there and ask them to clear the area. "Police will take all action necessary," he stressed.

Public transport in the area has been severely affected, with a halt in bus and tram services in the locale. The Wanchai MTR station was also shut.

Earlier in the day, the Transport Department began stopping all vehicles coming out of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel from travelling to Wanchai and Causeway Bay and routed them to North Point. Traffic in Southern district was barred from going north through the Aberdeen tunnel.

Last night the Hong Kong-bound tube of the Cross Harbour Tunnel and the northbound tube of the Aberdeen tunnel were closed. Wanchai MTR station was also closed. Chief Transport Officer Dennis Leung appealed to people to stay away from Wanchai.

While tram and bus services have resumed, Police appeal to people not to participate in any protest events planned for today, and to avoid the area for their own safety.

 
Violent protesters may be arrested

Mr Lee said the Police were processing the 900 protesters, who had staged a sit-in on Gloucester Road. They were following up in the courts and making arrests if warranted.

"We will not let them go easily," he said.

In response to a journalist's query, he said he did not see any need to call out the People's Liberation Army.

"I have not contacted them," he stressed.

Responding to another query, he said more than 2,000 Police were handling the situation, and that 9,000 of his officers were engaged in security for this meeting - about one-third of the total 26,700 Police officers.

Mr Lee said Police were still assessing whether to allow another planned protest to go ahead tomorrow and would let organisers know if there was a change in plans.

Hong Kong people deplore violence

"This kind of behaviour is unacceptable to Hong Kong people," said the head of the MC6 Coordinating Office, Janet Wong.

"Protecting the integrity of the conference and the delegates has been our top priority."

Some delegates who were outside the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre when Police had to close the roads had to be brought to the venue by boat to take part in key meetings, Ms Wong said.

'Time for brinksmanship over'

Speaking at another press briefing regarding the MC6 proceedings, WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell said the WTO members were working hard to try to secure more agreements.

They all expressed high praise for the meeting's inclusiveness and transparency, and "everyone realises we're almost out of time," Mr Rockwell said.

The delegates met throughout the night to refine a revised draft ministerial text. While many expressed dissatisfaction with it, "none rejected it outright," he said.

"Pressure is very much the name of the game now," he added. "The time for brinksmanship is over. We're now in the end game."