Competition Policy Advisory Group Report 2007-08 published
**********************************************************

     The Competition Policy Advisory Group (COMPAG) today (November 17) published its 2007-2008 annual report which is available online on the COMPAG website (www.compag.gov.hk).

     ¡§The report outlines the progress of the Government¡¦s specific initiatives aimed at promoting competition, and also gives an account of complaints of alleged anti-competitive conduct received by COMPAG during 2007-08,¡¨ a government spokesman said. ¡§It also briefly describes the action taken to follow up on each complaint and summarises the outcome of individual cases,¡¨ he said.

     ¡§This year¡¦s report also includes a brief overview of the public consultation that we conducted between May and August this year on the proposals for a competition law,¡¨ the spokesman said. The report notes that the feedback received during the consultation period confirms that there was significant support for the introduction of a cross-sector competition law.

     The spokesman said the Government aims to introduce a Competition Bill into the Legislative Council in this legislative session. ¡§In drafting the bill, we will take account of the views expressed by stakeholders on the detailed design of the competition law.¡¨

     COMPAG was established in December 1997 under the chairmanship of the Financial Secretary to co-ordinate the Government¡¦s efforts in promoting competition, to review competition issues that had substantial policy or systemic implications, and to direct bureaus and departments on such matters.

Ends/Monday, November 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:00

NNNN