For many of the ministers gathering in Hong Kong for the World Trade Organisation?s biennial jamboree, which opens on Tuesday, the accession ceremony for tiny Tonga could be the highlight of their week.

When even the main protagonists in the Doha global trade talks are vague on what they hope to achieve in the next six days, the rest of the WTO?s 149-strong membership could be forgiven for sneaking off to do a little shopping.