Competition Ordinance

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Competition Ordinance (Cap. 619)
Legislative Council of Hong Kong

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related portals: Ordinances of Hong Kong

Date of Commencement: 18 January 2013 (ss. 1, 2, 35, 38, 40, 59, 176; Parts 8-9; Schedules 5, 7 (Part 6), 8 (Parts 5, 7, s. 32)) (L.N. 177 of 2012)
Date of Commencement: 1 August 2013 (Part 10; Schedule 8 (Part 3)) (L.N. 177 of 2012)
Date of Commencement: 17 April 2015 (ss.3-5) (L.N. 39 of 2015)
Date of Commencement: 14 December 2015 (Remaining) (L.N. 156 of 2015)
Also take note of the amendments made by the Competition (Amendment) Ordinance 2014 (15 of 2014) to this Ordinance that commenced on 21 November 2014.

A verified copy of this enactment exists on Hong Kong e-Legislation since 19 September 2019.

4023011Competition Ordinance (Cap. 619)2012Legislative Council of Hong Kong

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COMPETITION ORDINANCE

CONTENTS

Section

Page

PART 1 Preliminary
1.	Short title and commencement ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1347
2.	Interpretation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1347
3.	Application to statutory bodies ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1355
4.	Application to specified persons and persons engaged in specified activities ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1355
5.	Regulations ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1355
PART 2 The Conduct Rules
Division 1—Agreements etc. Preventing, Restricting or Distorting Competition
Subdivision 1—First Conduct Rule
6.	Prohibition of anti-competitive agreements, concerted practices and decisions ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1357
7.	“Object” and “effect” of agreement ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1359
8.	Territorial application of first conduct rule ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1359
Subdivision 2—Decisions
9.	Application for decision ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1359
10.	Consideration of application ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1361
11.	Decision by Commission ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1361
12.	Effect of decision ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1363
13.	Non-compliance with condition or limitation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1363
14.	Rescission of decision ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1363
Subdivision 3—Block Exemptions
15.	Block exemption orders ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1367
16.	Procedures regarding block exemption orders ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1367
17.	Effect of block exemption order ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1369
18.	Non-compliance with condition or limitation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1369
19.	Review of block exemption order ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1369
20.	Variation or revocation of block exemption order ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1371
Division 2—Abuse of Market Power
Subdivision 1—Second Conduct Rule
21.	Abuse of market power ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1371
22.	“Object” and “effect” of conduct ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1373
23.	Territorial application of second conduct rule ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	align
Subdivision 2—Decisions
24.	Application for decision ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1373
25.	Consideration of application ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1375
26.	Decision by Commission ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1377
27.	Effect of decision ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1377
28.	Non-compliance with condition or limitation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1377
29.	Rescission of decision ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1377
Division 3—Exclusions and Exemptions
Subdivision 1—Exclusions from Conduct Rules
30.	Exclusions ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1381
Subdivision 2—Exemptions from Conduct Rules
31.	Exemptions on public policy grounds ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1381
32.	Exemption to avoid conflict with international obligations ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1383
33.	Orders to be published and placed before Legislative Council ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1383
Division 4—Miscellaneous
34.	Register of decisions and block exemption orders ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1387
35.	Guidelines ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1387
36.	Amendment of Schedule 1 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1389
PART 3 Complaints and Investigations
Division 1—Complaints
37.	Complaints ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1389
38.	Guidelines regarding complaints ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1389
Division 2—Investigations
39.	Power to conduct investigations ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1391
40.	Guidelines regarding investigations ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1391
41.	Powers to obtain documents and information ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1391
42.	Persons may be required to attend before Commission ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1393
43.	Statutory declaration regarding evidence ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1395
44.	Immunity ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1395
45.	Self-incrimination ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1395
46.	Obligation of confidence ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1397
Division 3—Search and Seizure
47.	Appointment of authorized officers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1397
48.	Warrant to enter and search premises ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1397
49.	Duty to produce evidence of authority ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1399
50.	Powers conferred by warrant ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1399
Division 4—Offences in Relation to Investigations
51.	Interpretation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1401
52.	Failure to comply with requirement or prohibition ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1401
53.	Destroying or falsifying documents ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1403
54.	Obstruction of search ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1403
55.	Providing false or misleading documents or information ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1403
Division 5—Miscellaneous
56.	Retention of property ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1405
57.	Disposal of property ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1405
58.	Legal professional privilege ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1407
59.	Guidelines ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1407
PART 4 Enforcement Powers of Commission
Division 1—Commitments
60.	Commitments ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1409
61.	Withdrawal of acceptance of commitment ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1411
62.	Variation, substitution and release of commitment ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1413
63.	Enforcement of commitment ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1413
64.	Register of commitments ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1415
65.	Procedural requirements regarding commitments ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1415
Division 2—Infringement Notices
66.	Interpretation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1417
67.	Commission may issue infringement notice ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1417
68.	Person not obliged to make commitment ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1419
69.	Contents of infringement notice ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1419
70.	Notice of proposal to issue infringement notice ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1419
71.	Decision not to issue infringement notice ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1421
72.	Effect of issue of infringement notice ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1421
73.	Withdrawal of infringement notice ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1421
74.	Extension of compliance period ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1421
75.	Effect of commitment to comply with requirements of infringement notice ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1423
76.	Failure to comply with requirements of infringement notice ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1423
77.	Registration of commitments ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1423
78.	Publication of infringement notices ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1423
Division 3—Leniency
79.	Interpretation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1423
80.	Commission may make leniency agreements ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1425
81.	Termination of leniency agreement ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1425
Division 4—Warning Notices
82.	Warning notices ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1427
PART 5 Review by Tribunal
83.	Interpretation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1429
84.	Review of reviewable determination ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1431
85.	Who may apply for review ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1431
86.	Tribunal may state case for Court of Appeal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1433
87.	Decision of Tribunal on application for review ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1433
88.	Time limit for applying for review ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1433
89.	Stay of execution of reviewable determination ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1435
PART 6 Enforcement before Tribunal
Division 1—Introductory
90.	Interpretation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1435
91.	Persons involved in contravention of competition rule ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1435
Division 2—Pecuniary Penalty
92.	Commission may apply for pecuniary penalty ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1437
93.	Tribunal may impose pecuniary penalty ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1437
Division 3—Other Orders
94.	Other orders of Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1349
95.	Interim orders ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1441
96.	Order to pay costs of Commission investigation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1441
Division 4—Contraventions of Merger Rule
Subdivision 1—Anticipated Mergers
97.	Proceedings in relation to anticipated mergers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1443
98.	Interim orders ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1443
Subdivision 2—Mergers
99.	Application to Tribunal for order ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1445
100.	Proceedings in relation to mergers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1445
Division 5—Disqualification Orders
101.	Disqualification order ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1445
102.	Circumstances in which disqualification order may be made ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1447
103.	Unfitness to be concerned in management of company ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1447
104.	Applications for disqualification order and for leave under an order ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1447
105.	Contravention of disqualification order ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1449
PART 7 Private Actions
Division 1—General
106.	Interpretation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1449
107.	Persons involved in contravention of conduct rule ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1449
108.	No proceedings independent of this Ordinance ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1451
109.	Pure competition proceedings not to be brought in Court of First Instance ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1451
Division 2—Follow-on Action
110.	Follow-on right of action ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1451
111.	Commencement of follow-on actions ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1453
112.	Tribunal orders in follow-on actions ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1453
Division 3—Procedure
113.	Transfer of proceedings from Court of First Instance to Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1453
114.	Transfer of proceedings from Tribunal to Court of First Instance ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1455
115.	No further transfer of proceedings from Court of First Instance to Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1455
116.	No further transfer of proceedings from Tribunal to Court of First Instance ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1457
117.	Costs in transferred proceedings ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1457
118.	Reference by Court of First Instance or Tribunal to Commission for investigation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1457
119.	Findings of contravention of conduct rules ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1457
120.	Intervention by Commission ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1459
121.	Commission may participate in proceedings ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1459
PART 8 Disclosure of Information
122.	Interpretation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1461
123.	Confidential information ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1461
124.	Duty to establish and maintain safeguards ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1463
125.	Preservation of confidentiality ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1463
126.	Disclosure with lawful authority ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1465
127.	Notice of proposed disclosure ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1467
128.	Obligation of third party not to disclose confidential information ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1467
PART 9 Competition Commission
Division 1—Establishment, Functions and Powers
129.	Establishment of Commission ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1471
130.	Functions of Commission ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1471
131.	Powers of Commission ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1471
Division 2—Relationship to Government
132.	Commission not servant or agent of Government ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1473
133.	Personal immunity of members of Commission etc. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1473
PART 10 Competition Tribunal
Division 1—Constitution
134.	Establishment of Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1475
135.	Constitution of Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1475
Subdivision 1—President and Deputy President
136.	President ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1475
137.	Deputy President ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1475
138.	Acting President ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1477
139.	Resignation as President or Deputy President ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1477
140.	Vacancy in office of President or Deputy President ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1477
Subdivision 2—Assessors
141.	Assessors ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1479
Division 2—Jurisdiction and Powers
142.	Jurisdiction of Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1479
143.	Powers of Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1481
Division 3—Practice and Procedure
144.	Procedures ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1481
145.	Hearing and determination of applications ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1483
146.	Absence of member during course of proceedings ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1483
147.	Rules of evidence ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1485
148.	Evidence that might tend to incriminate ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1485
149.	Findings of fact by Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1487
150.	Findings of fact by Court of First Instance ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1487
151.	Order not to disclose material ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1487
152.	Decisions of Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1489
153.	Orders of Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1489
154.	Appeal to Court of Appeal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1489
155.	Leave to appeal required for interlocutory appeals ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1491
Division 4—Miscellaneous
156.	Registrar and other staff of Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1491
157.	Seal of Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1491
158.	Tribunal rules ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1493
PART 11 Concurrent Jurisdiction Relating to Telecommunications and Broadcasting
159.	Concurrent jurisdiction with Communications Authority ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1493
160.	Transfer of competition matter between competition authorities ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1495
161.	Memorandum of Understanding ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1495
PART 12 Miscellaneous
Division 1—General
162.	Merger ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1497
162.	Determination of turnover of undertaking ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1497
164.	Fees ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1499
165.	Personal immunity of public officers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1499
Division 2—Service of Documents
166.	Service of documents on Commission ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1499
167.	Service of documents other than on Commission ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1501
Division 3—Indemnities
168.	Certain indemnities of officers, employees or agents void ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1505
169.	Financial penalty for contravention of section 168 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1505
170.	Provision of funds for indemnity for defending proceedings ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1507
Division 4—Offences
171.	Criminal proceedings not to be brought in Tribunal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1507
172.	Provision of false information ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1509
173.	Employees not to suffer termination etc. for assisting Commission ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1509
174.	Obstruction of specified persons ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1509
175.	Offences by bodies corporate and partners ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1511
Division 5—Consequential, Related, Transitional and Savings Provisions
176.	Consequential and related amendments ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1511
177.	Transitional and savings provisions in relation to amendments made by this Ordinance ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1511

Schedule 1	General exclusions from conduct rules ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1513
Schedule 2	Commitments ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1521
Schedule 3	Orders that may be made by Tribunal in relation to contraventions of competition rules ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1529
Schedule 4	Provisions that may be contained in orders made by Tribunal in relation to anticipated mergers and mergers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1533
Schedule 5	Competition Commission ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1537
Schedule 6	Matters that must be provided for in Memorandum of Understanding ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1565
Schedule 7	Mergers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1565
Schedule 8	Consequential and related amendments ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1585
Schedule 9	Transitional and savings provisions ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................	A1601

This work is a Hong Kong ordinance, which is copyrighted in Hong Kong for 50 years after publication pursuant to section 183(2) and paragraph 36 of Schedule 2 of the Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528). However, as an edict of a government, it is in the public domain in the U.S.

According to Section 3 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap. 1), the term "ordinance" also includes any subsidiary legislation made under any ordinances of Hong Kong that does not contravene with the Hong Kong Basic Law.

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