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The Government published in the Gazette today (May 9) the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2014 (Bill).
The Bill seeks to amend the Competition Ordinance (Cap. 619) (Ordinance) to ensure the proper functioning of the Competition Tribunal (Tribunal) upon the full commencement of the Ordinance.
The Ordinance, which was enacted in June 2012, provides a legal framework to tackle anti-competitive conduct across different sectors. Since the enactment of the Ordinance, the Administration has been working closely with the Competition Commission and the Judiciary towards the full implementation of the Ordinance.
A Government spokesperson said,"The amendments proposed in the Bill mainly aim to confer on the Tribunal as well as its members and judicial officers specific powers similar to those currently exercised by the judges and judicial officers of the Court of First Instance in respect of civil proceedings.
"To ensure the operational readiness of the Tribunal in discharging its functions, it is essential to introduce these amendments before the full implementation of the Ordinance."
The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first and second readings on May 14.
Ends/Friday, May 9, 2014
Issued at HKT 11:00
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