In a warning to World Trade Organization protesters not to cause disturbances, the leaders of the Hong Kong Hotels Association said this week that privacy concerns will not be important to security if criminal evidence suggests hotel guests are threatened by demonstrators.

Association executive director James Lu said to local media that all guests would be subject to background checks by Interpol if criminal evidence gathered by security agents and surveillance warrants the move.

Hoteliers also have the right to check rooms, he said. "In the case of a criminal investigation, privacy doesn't count anymore."

Hotel association chairman Mark Lettenbichler also told local media that because of past violent protests in Seattle and Cancun, he doesn't think the security threat is exaggerated.

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