ISLAMABAD, Nov 24: Pakistan is investigating a threat to carry out attacks on hotels in Hong Kong and the rest of China ahead of a World Trade Organisation conference, officials said on Wednesday. Hong Kong and Pakistani security officials said there was no evidence to support the anonymous warning, which was carried in a letter faxed to the Chinese consulate general in Karachi three weeks ago.

“It mentioned possible attacks in Hong Kong” but not in Pakistan, Pakistani foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told AFP. “There is no evidence to suggest the threat is genuine. It may be a prank.”

A senior security official in Pakistan told AFP the fax also threatened hotels in the rest of China. The threat carried the name of a person who identified himself as Ali Rizvi, the official said.

The World Trade Organisation’s Sixth Ministerial Conference is being held in Hong Kong from December 13-18.

Hong Kong’s Security Secretary Ambrose Lee played down the terror warning.

“According to our latest assessment, the chance of having terrorist attacks in Hong Kong in the short term is not big, but of course we don’t take lightly any such threats,” Mr Lee said.

“We will continue to stay on high alert. But the citizens don’t need to worry about it because Hong Kong is still the safest city.”

China’s consulate general in Karachi was not immediately available for comment.—AFP