Hong Kong People's Alliance on WTO
Encyclopedia
The Hong Kong People’s Alliance on WTO (Traditional Chinese
: 民間監察世貿聯盟; often abbreviated as HKPA) is a grassroots
organization that aimed to protest at the WTO Ministerial Conference of 2005
which was held in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
in Wan Chai North
on 13–18 December 2005.
Representatives for 148 countries attended and HKPAOWTO aimed to lead over 10000 people in protests.
At present, the HKPA has 31 organisations which include regional groups like: Asian Student Association (ASA), Documentation for Action Groups in Asia (DAGA), Christian Conference of Asia
: Urban Rural Mission (CCA-URM), and Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC).
Local groups are the following: The Neighbourhood and Workers Service Centre, The Pioneer, Union of Hong Kong Post Office Employees, Association of Government Technical And Survey Officers, Frontline Welfare Employees Union, Globalization Monitor, Global Network, Government Mod 1 Staff General Union, Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), Consumers Acting for People & the Environment, Justice and Peace Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese, Student Christian Movement of Hong Kong.
There are also member groups of or organizations working on migrant workers, namely: Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM), Asian Migrants Centre, Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB), Coalition for Migrants Right (CMR), Far East Overseas Nepalese Association- Hong Kong (FEONA-HK), Indonesian Migrants Workers Union (IMWU), Philippines Domestic Helpers General Union (PDHGU), and The Hong Kong Indonesian Migrant Workers Organization (KOTKIHO).
Sunday, 11 December
1:00pm, Victoria Park
Sunday, 11 December
8:00pm, Victoria Park
Tuesday, 13 December
1:00pm, Victoria Park
Sunday, 18 December
2:00pm, Victoria Park
The Action and Mobilization Group (AMG) is responsible for organizing the public rallies during the action week in December . Since many local groups and overseas groups will join the rallies, however, it is very likely that the Hong Kong authorities will stigmatize the rallies in the media and also impose violence on the demonstrators. AMG is therefore responsible for networking with Human Rights groups to defend the freedom of assembly and the rights of free from violence imposed by the police. AMG will also try to form team of legal consultants to provide legal advice for demonstrators who come across maltreatment from the HK authority.
The Documentation Group (DG) is responsible for providing other people with information on the WTO and the HKPA, in terms of position papers and activities. On the other hand, DG will also document the process between now and the WTO’s ministerial meeting in HK in Dec.
Education and Local Mobilization Group
responsible for providing education on the impacts of WTO to the Hong Kong public. To fulfill this task, it has to contextualize the analysis of the impact of WTO on the livelihood of the Hong Kong. The Education and Local Mobilization Group is also responsible for mobilizing the public to participate in the global justice campaign.
Hong Kong Government Monitoring
Monitor the Government (MGG) is responsible for urging the government to release the information of the WTO negotiation and defending the rights and interest of the grass root group during the negotiation with the government.
).
Firstly, the Logistic and Fund Raising Group (LFRG) is responsible for raising funds for Action Week and education/mobilization activities. Secondly, LFRG is responsible for mobilizing volunteers from different network and local organization for the Action week (include interpreters). Lastly, LFRG will provide logistic support for activities during action week.
responsible for projecting the image and position of HKPA to HK media through media statements, activities and mass actions.
Outreach Group (OG) is responsible for expanding the international network of HKPA and establishing contact with groups those are under-represented in ICN in terms of the issues they concerned or the geographical area they come from.
Programme Group
Brief Description
Programme Group (PG) is responsible for developing content and design of maximum impact through collective action for the centralized Opening and Closing Plenary. On the other hand, PG will also coordinate all the information about on-going/planned activities for the Action week and produce a calendar of consolidated activities on the theme and sectors for each day.
Traditional Chinese character
Traditional Chinese characters refers to Chinese characters in any character set which does not contain newly created characters or character substitutions performed after 1946. It most commonly refers to characters in the standardized character sets of Taiwan, of Hong Kong, or in the Kangxi...
: 民間監察世貿聯盟; often abbreviated as HKPA) is a grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
organization that aimed to protest at the WTO Ministerial Conference of 2005
WTO Ministerial Conference of 2005
The Sixth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, also known as the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial Conference and abbreviated as MC6, was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong from 13 to 18 December 2005...
which was held in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is one of the two major convention and exhibition venues in Hong Kong, along with AsiaWorld-Expo. It is located in Wan Chai North, Hong Kong Island. Built along the Victoria Harbour, it is linked by covered walkways to nearby hotels and commercial...
in Wan Chai North
Wan Chai
Wan Chai is a metropolitan area situated at the western part of the Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. Its other boundaries are Canal Road to the east, Arsenal Street to the west and Bowen Road to the south. The area north of Gloucester Road is often called...
on 13–18 December 2005.
Representatives for 148 countries attended and HKPAOWTO aimed to lead over 10000 people in protests.
Background
Launched on 22 September 2004, the HKPA is a network of grass-root organizations which include trade unions, community labour groups and organisations that represent migrant workers, students, women, church, human rights, research organisations and regional organisations that are based locally in Hong Kong.At present, the HKPA has 31 organisations which include regional groups like: Asian Student Association (ASA), Documentation for Action Groups in Asia (DAGA), Christian Conference of Asia
Christian Conference of Asia
The Christian Conference of Asia is a regional ecumenical organisation representing 17 National Councils and 100 denominations in 21 countries:- Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan,...
: Urban Rural Mission (CCA-URM), and Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC).
Local groups are the following: The Neighbourhood and Workers Service Centre, The Pioneer, Union of Hong Kong Post Office Employees, Association of Government Technical And Survey Officers, Frontline Welfare Employees Union, Globalization Monitor, Global Network, Government Mod 1 Staff General Union, Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), Consumers Acting for People & the Environment, Justice and Peace Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese, Student Christian Movement of Hong Kong.
There are also member groups of or organizations working on migrant workers, namely: Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM), Asian Migrants Centre, Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB), Coalition for Migrants Right (CMR), Far East Overseas Nepalese Association- Hong Kong (FEONA-HK), Indonesian Migrants Workers Union (IMWU), Philippines Domestic Helpers General Union (PDHGU), and The Hong Kong Indonesian Migrant Workers Organization (KOTKIHO).
Main objectives
- Derail WTO’s attempt to conclude agreements which aim to further liberalise trade and investment
- Pressurise the Hong Kong government to engage the people in its negotiations within the WTO by providing periodic updates, briefings and consultations on contents and agenda of the meeting
- Raise the consciousness of local NGOs on the essence of so-called free tradeFree tradeUnder a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
as campaigned for by the WTO so as to raise local awareness on the unjust distribution of global economic power; - Promote local anti-privatization campaigns
- Increase awareness of the impact on Chinese working people since China’s accession of the WTO
Action towards WTO during 2005
People's Action Week Programme: December 8–18- March/Rally (Victoria ParkVictoria Park, Hong KongVictoria Park is a public park in Hong Kong, named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. It is located in Causeway Bay, on the north of Hong Kong Island, between Causeway Bay and Tin Hau MTR stations...
to Central Government Office)
Sunday, 11 December
1:00pm, Victoria Park
- Cultural Events/Solidarity Night
Sunday, 11 December
8:00pm, Victoria Park
- Opening Public Assembly and Rally
Tuesday, 13 December
1:00pm, Victoria Park
- Closing March/Rally
Sunday, 18 December
2:00pm, Victoria Park
Working Groups
HKPA is made up of 8 working groups.- Action and Mobilization Group
The Action and Mobilization Group (AMG) is responsible for organizing the public rallies during the action week in December . Since many local groups and overseas groups will join the rallies, however, it is very likely that the Hong Kong authorities will stigmatize the rallies in the media and also impose violence on the demonstrators. AMG is therefore responsible for networking with Human Rights groups to defend the freedom of assembly and the rights of free from violence imposed by the police. AMG will also try to form team of legal consultants to provide legal advice for demonstrators who come across maltreatment from the HK authority.
- Documentation Group
The Documentation Group (DG) is responsible for providing other people with information on the WTO and the HKPA, in terms of position papers and activities. On the other hand, DG will also document the process between now and the WTO’s ministerial meeting in HK in Dec.
Education and Local Mobilization Group
- The Education and Local Mobilization Group
responsible for providing education on the impacts of WTO to the Hong Kong public. To fulfill this task, it has to contextualize the analysis of the impact of WTO on the livelihood of the Hong Kong. The Education and Local Mobilization Group is also responsible for mobilizing the public to participate in the global justice campaign.
Hong Kong Government Monitoring
Monitor the Government (MGG) is responsible for urging the government to release the information of the WTO negotiation and defending the rights and interest of the grass root group during the negotiation with the government.
).
- Logistics and Fundraising Group
Firstly, the Logistic and Fund Raising Group (LFRG) is responsible for raising funds for Action Week and education/mobilization activities. Secondly, LFRG is responsible for mobilizing volunteers from different network and local organization for the Action week (include interpreters). Lastly, LFRG will provide logistic support for activities during action week.
- Media and Publicity Group
responsible for projecting the image and position of HKPA to HK media through media statements, activities and mass actions.
- Outreach Group
Outreach Group (OG) is responsible for expanding the international network of HKPA and establishing contact with groups those are under-represented in ICN in terms of the issues they concerned or the geographical area they come from.
Programme Group
Brief Description
Programme Group (PG) is responsible for developing content and design of maximum impact through collective action for the centralized Opening and Closing Plenary. On the other hand, PG will also coordinate all the information about on-going/planned activities for the Action week and produce a calendar of consolidated activities on the theme and sectors for each day.
External links
- Hong Kong People’s Alliance on WTO (Chinese) (more up to date than the English version)
- Hong Kong People’s Alliance on WTO (English)
- WTO Ministerial Conference of 2005 Official Website