HONG KONG, Feb 27: More than 5,000 anti-globalization activists from across the world are expected to demonstrate at a key World Trade Organization (WTO) meet in Hong Kong in December, organisers said in reports on Sunday.

The estimate was reached at a planning meeting of 250 campaigners from local and international non-governmental organizations here at the weekend, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported.

"We expect 5,000 to join our demonstration," said Apo Leong, spokesman for the Hong Kong People's Alliance on the World Trade Organization. "Our basic principal is to stay sensible and peaceful when expressing our opinions. We want to tell the police there is no need for them to stock up on bullets," he was quoted as saying.

Hong Kong police have said they were stocking up on rubber bullets and other riot equipment to prevent any violent protests similar to those seen at WTO and other meetings in other parts of the world.

In 1999 the WTO ministerial conference in Seattle was disrupted by activists who smashed windows, sprayed graffiti and set rubbish skips alight. Hong Kong Police Commissioner Dick Lee said the police had discussed security measures with the WTO representatives and would also meet with the campaigners.

The government has said a protest area would be set up inside the venue of the meeting, the first time such an arrangement had been made for the WTO event. -AFP