Competition drives efficiency and innovation, directing business to meet consumer demands by providing the right products at the right price and quality. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region promotes sustainable competition in the interest of both business and consumers. The legal framework that regulates anti-competitive conduct in Hong Kong is set out in the Competition Ordinance. It prohibits conduct that prevents, restricts or distorts competition, such as price fixing, market sharing, bid rigging and output limitation; it also prohibits mergers involving carrier licence holders within the meaning of the Telecommunications Ordinance that substantially lessen competition in Hong Kong.
The Competition Commission is a statutory body that enforces the Competition Ordinance. It investigates possible contraventions, promotes public understanding of the ordinance, conducts market studies, and advises the government on competition matters.
The Communications Authority has concurrent jurisdiction with the Competition Commission to enforce the Competition Ordinance with respect to anti-competitive conduct in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors, including merger and acquisition activities involving carrier licensees.
The Competition Tribunal is set up within the Judiciary as a superior court of record that has the primary jurisdiction to hear and adjudicate on competition cases brought by the Competition Commission, follow-on private actions as well as reviews of certain determinations of the Commission.
