Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- South Korean activists sprayed slogans outside the U.S. consulate in Hong Kong and stormed a building housing their own diplomatic envoy to protest a meeting of World Trade Organization ministers in the Chinese city.

About 50 South Korean militant unionists sprayed ``No Bush'' and ``Down WTO'' in red paint and pulled letters off the wall of the U.S. consulate in the business district of Hong Kong. Female activists scuffled with police guarding the South Korean consulate after 50 demonstrators stormed the building.

``The farmers are also Korean citizens,'' said Kang Byong Ki, president of Peasants' Committee of the Korean Democratic Labor Party. ``We want to complain and we want the consulate to do its duty to protect Korean farmers.''

South Korean activists escalated their protests after failing to get WTO ministers to meet their demands during three days of demonstrations. Yesterday 1,500 South Korean farmers walked to the convention center in a Buddhist-style peaceful protest bowing in respect every three steps.

Hong Kong Police Chief Superintendent Alfred Ma earlier said security forces are ready for any escalation in the protests. He declined to say what measures the police will take if the protests turn violent.

``The police doesn't have an `iron fist' approach,'' Ma said at a press briefing in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. ``If by escalation you mean jeopardize public safety and likely to cause injuries, we are duty bound to stop it.''

U.S. Marines were deployed to guard the U.S. consulate building, where six South Korean activists had earlier shaved their heads in protest.

Excessive Force

Anti-World Trade Organization groups today earlier accused local police of ``excessive force.''

Elizabeth Tang, a spokeswoman for the Hong Kong People's Alliance Against WTO, said the police search of a truck carrying a public address system for South Korean activists last night was ``irritating'' and unnecessary.

``It's things like that that will further intensify the protests,'' Tang said at a press conference. ``We hope the police will stop doing this and let the protesters get on with the demonstrations.''

Hong Kong Police have deployed a third of its 27,000-person force and cancelled all leave in the biggest action by security forces since Hong Kong reverted to Chinese control.

About 500 women earlier marched from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay to the protest site outside the WTO ministerial meeting, chanting slogans.

Yesterday, about 1,500 Korean farmers marched to the protest site near the convention center making a sitting bow every three steps then held a candlelight vigil with other activists.

Four Hong Kong residents today said the Koreans' actions prompted them to stage a hunger strike until the WTO meeting ends on Dec. 18. The four aren't affiliated with any of the protest groups.

``We wanted to let the farmers know they're not alone in this battle,'' said Lee Wai Yee, one of the four. ``We're not expecting the WTO to respond to our actions.''

Korean farmers and trade unionists clashed with riot police outside the talks at the convention center on Dec. 13 and 14, and were repelled by plastic shields, batons and pepper spray. During two days of clashes, seven people, including two policemen, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Leaders of the Korean farmers said they are determined to carry on their protests without resorting to violence.

``We have to show that we can be polite,'' said Seo Jung Eui, head of the Korea Advanced Farmers Federation. ``We are in Hong Kong and want to show the people of Hong Kong that we can protest peacefully.''