Has a deal finally been struck at the trade talks after five days of round-the-clock parleys among trade ministers and officials of the 150-member countries of the World Trade Organisation?

That was the question some 3,200 members of the media were grappling with at the convention centre here as trade ministers of 33 nations concluded their marathon greenroom meeting at 8.30 a.m. Sunday.

Indian officials claimed a final ministerial text had been agreed upon at the greenroom meeting, which was attended by Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, among others. But an EU spokesperson immediately denied any such claim.

Then came some buzz that said the smaller group of trade ministers had agreed on the end date for rich countries to cut their export subsidies, only to be told a little later that Brazilians had problems with the year 2013.

Calls to Indian officials for proved futile, since most wanted to catch a wink after the long-drawn deliberations - which have been a ritual ever since they arrived here last Sunday - and did not have the energy for comments.

"You'll know at 4.30 p.m. when the minister briefs you," said a hoarse-sounding official. "But what about 2.30 p.m.?" this reporter asked, referring to the time fixed for the briefing, after rescheduling the previously appointed 11.00 a.m.

"Yes, it has been rescheduled again," was the reply, even as another bit of "news" was being floated at the media centre - this time on a major package for least developed countries.

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City of Life goes dead

With protests by South Korean farmers turning violent at times near Hong Kong's sprawling convention centre, the police had to cordon off a large area, much to the discomfort of local residents and the media team covering the trade talks.

Most members of the Indian media team had to walk a few kilometres back to their hotels after a tiresome day and night of reporting - and those who wanted a cab had to walk in the opposite direction from their destination to get one.

But local residents found the ground situation rather unprecedented.

"I can't believe I'm in Wanchai and it is Saturday night," said a fellow pedestrian, adding that the district usually bustled with frolicking people on weekends.

"This is the first time we are seeing this kind of violence in which our police force is being targeted. I am not sure if we had this kind of a situation when Hong Kong was handed over to the Chinese," he said.

"You know, our tourism board promotes Hong Kong as the City of Life. I'm not sure if they had this kind of life in mind."

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The Pascal Lamy blogs

WTO Director General Pascal Lamy has been writing a daily diary since he landed here Monday for the six-day trade talks. He has also been inviting comments from bloggers on his first-person comments on his activities.

On the opening day, he wrote about how he has promoted fair debate.

"While I was doing an interview with a French radio station, José Bové called in to complain he was being retained at the Hong Kong airport and was not being allowed in. I told him I would check with the HK authorities. Some hours later he was here. That's what open dialogue is about."

Bove, a French farmer who shot to prominence in 1999 after he helped demolish a partly built McDonald's fast food restaurant in southern France, has been asked to "strictly respect public order".

Authorities were expecting trouble from the militant farmer who participates in anti-globalization protests worldwide.

Another day, Lamy wrote about the least developed countries. "They are keen to get access to rich countries' markets for their products - free of barriers.

"Some of them remind me that they represent only a tiny fraction of world trade, less than one percent, they cannot be seen as a threat to anyone - do they have any chance? I see my task as ensuring that their voices are heard and their points taken into account."

But one comment written mid-way through the dreary day-night sessions, perhaps, aptly encompasses what Lamy has been going through, say some members of the WTO chief's team at the secretariat.

"Sometimes I feel like a shepherd, sometimes like a nurse, or a mid-wife, trying to help members in a difficult delivery."