WTO Hong Kong: conclusion

Hong Kong WTO? This is it. After this, no more. Promise.
So what was achieved at the 6th Ministerial Conference of the WTO held in Hong Kong? Inside the conference? Well, not a lot. As far as I can gather, based on an NYT summary:

(a) All agricultural export subsidies must end by 2013. A "substantial" part of the subsidy cut should come much sooner, but the details of this were not defined;
(b) Rich countries, notably the United States, must eliminate cotton export quotas next year and provide technical assistance to cotton-growing nations in West and Central Africa;
(c) Fishing industry subsidies must be halted if they contribute to overfishing, although rules for identifying such subsidies still need to be drafted.

Notice the 'not defined' and 'need to be drafted'? Also left for further negotiation:

(a) Reductions in domestic farm subsidies
(b) Reductions in tariffs and quotas for trade in goods
(c) Lowering of barriers to international competition in services like education, insurance, telecommunications and banking

That last topic is what diplomats call 'contentious'. Why so? Basically, the rich are saying: we will stop beating you up (US and EU agricultural subsidies to their own farmers, thereby crippling farmers in the 'developing' world), if... you let us come in your living room and acquire your crown jewels (water, education, hospital management, power generation and distribution, mineral resources).
The poor in the developing world have already seen what happens when critical areas of the public sector are sold on the cheap to private interests who, furthermore, promise 'efficiencies'. Efficiencies for who (and whom)? And not just in the developing world.
What else? Outside the conference centre, the Korean farmers won a lot of local sympathy. The general carnival atmosphere was an eye-opener and inspiration. One tidbit gleaned from local media was how many mainland Chinese visitors took a break from shopping to see what was going on...
Sure, there was some argy-bargy on Saturday night. But, hey! Not much damage was done: no banks, embassies, globally-known fast-food sites got trashed or fire-bombed. Hong Kong got off lightly. It is sobering to note that institutional violence has driven 25,000 farmers in India to commit suicide since 1997.
So, fourteen arrested for Unlawful Assembly: all foreigners. Koreans, a Taiwanese, a Japanese, a mainland Chinese. The latter says he was just shopping with his friend, got caught up in the crowd. Yeah, well...
Locals? Unknown number arrested on different charges, all bailed.
As it is, the unfortunate 14 appear in court again, today Friday. Although the South Koreans promptly sent a penitent vice minister to express regret and ask for their release... the matter is now in the hands of the Hong Kong judiciary, which is independent of the government.
The cases may well be held over until January, with the defendants refused bail. Could this be: congee for Christmas?
Heaven, forfend! Perhaps someone should have a quiet word in the magistrate's ear?
Mister Bijou's suggestion: offer the defendants' lawyers a deal... the kind of legal wheeler-dealing that happens all the time, believe me. You get your clients to plead guilty, we'll sentence them to serve XX days in detention. Since this will be the time they already spent in detention, they'll be free to go. Only in this case, we''ll have to serve them with a deportation order. No worries. Wave, goodbye! That's it. No more. Promise.