A Hong Kong police spokesperson said yesterday evening that 188 protesters, reported to be mostly South Korean farmers, who were arrested during Saturday's violent demonstrations against the WTO have been released.

A Hong Kong police spokesperson said yesterday evening that 188 protesters, reported to be mostly South Korean farmers, who were arrested during Saturday's violent demonstrations against the WTO have been released.

The Consulate General of South Korea was informed of the decision and promptly arranged to receive its nationals, he said, and investigations are continuing into the actions of those still in detention.

"Yesterday's acts require police to conduct thorough follow up investigation in order to identify persons responsible for the disturbances that saw significant disruption to life in Wanchai district," said the spokesperson.

"We reiterate that we respect individual's freedom of expression but condemn those who blatantly cause breach of peace by acts of violence," he added.

South Korean farmers who confronted the police were vehemently opposed to the opening up of their domestic markets to foreign competition, fearing this would drive local farmers out of business.

The spokesperson said the process to complete police procedures, including interviewing individuals through interpreters, had met with some difficulties because of the uncooperative attitude of those arrested and difficulties in arranging interpretation.

Around 114 were injured during clashes between protesters and police on Saturday. Demonstrators hit police with bamboo sticks, and police used pepper spray and smoke grenades to disperse them. Around 900 protesters were arrested.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily December 19, 2005)