[A2k] Dow Jones Newswires on Hong Kong SAR's proposed competition law

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

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Hong Kong has no antitrust law or regulator at present, handling
complaints about anticompetitive behavior on a case-by-case basis.

"The introduction of the new law will help us to more effectively
implement our competition policy, which is aimed at enhancing economic
efficiency and the benefit of consumers through promoting sustainable
competition," said Frederick Ma, Hong Kong's secretary for commerce
and economic development.


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HK Govt Starts 3-Mo Consultation On Proposed Competition Bill

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
May 6, 2008 7:18 a.m.



HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--The Hong Kong government said Tuesday it has
launched a three-month consultation on its proposal for a new
competition law in the city, aimed at promoting better business
practices, as well as protecting consumer rights.

The government said it will take account of the public's views when it
finalizes the drafting of the Competition Bill, which it plans to
introduce to the city's legislature in the 2008-2009 legislative
session.

Hong Kong has no antitrust law or regulator at present, handling
complaints about anticompetitive behavior on a case-by-case basis.

"The introduction of the new law will help us to more effectively
implement our competition policy, which is aimed at enhancing economic
efficiency and the benefit of consumers through promoting sustainable
competition," said Frederick Ma, Hong Kong's secretary for commerce
and economic development.

Hong Kong's government agreed in 2005 to set up an independent
committee to review its fair-competition regime, after spending much
of the last decade or so resisting calls by consumer groups and
opposition politicians for a more vigorous antitrust policy.

Ma said the government found "general support" for the introduction of
a cross-sector competition law in its last consultation on the
subject, held in 2006.

The government's proposed competition bill will include the formation
of a competition commission to investigate breaches in competition law
and a tribunal to review the decisions by the commission.

The government said it is also inviting views on merger control, but
said it hasn't come to a decision on the matter.



-By Chester Yung, Dow Jones Newswires; 852-2802-7002; chester.yung@dowjones.com

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Thiru Balasubramaniam
Geneva Representative
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
thiru@keionline.org


Tel: +41 22 791 6727
Mobile: +41 76 508 0997