On September 30, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government released a report on views collected from the public on the detailed proposals for a competition law.
According to the report, there is general public support for most of the proposals outlined in the consultation paper. Respondents also suggested additional proposals ranging from detailed and technical legal points to recommendations on how the government might clarify the law and explain its likely effect to the public.
The new law is aimed at enhancing economic efficiency and the benefit of consumers through promoting sustainable competition. By setting out a clear and enforceable prohibition against anti-competitive conduct, a competition law can help facilitate a better business environment for companies and protect consumers’ rights, for the benefit of all sectors of society
“Feedback received during the consultation period indicated significant support in the community for the establishment of an independent Competition Commission to enforce a cross-sector competition law,” said a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau.
He added that the response was encouraging and that the bureau had received 176 submissions.
“In drafting the competition law, we will take into account the views received from the public,” said the spokesman. “The government aims to draw up a regulatory framework that will provide a level playing field on which companies, big or small, can compete fairly.”
In May 2008, the bureau issued a consultation paper outlining detailed proposals for a competition law, and invited public views on the proposals. The report on the feedback from the community is available at [www.cedb.gov.hk/citb/ehtml/home.html].
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