Hong Kong antitrust watchdog launches website to help SMEs with competition law

Hong Kong’s antitrust watchdog has launched a website to help small and medium-sized enterprises better navigate the Competition Ordinance after a survey showed that only a quarter of firms polled were adequately equipped to comply with the law.

The survey found that more than 70 per cent of the respondents believed the ordinance could help curtail anticompetitive activities, with an SME representative pointing out that businesses lacked knowledge of the law.

Competition Commission executive director Gary Shiu Moon-cheung said on Tuesday the watchdog had decided to take action.

“Through regular meetings with SMEs and the recent survey … we realise that some enterprises may not be able to effectively put in place measures of relevant compliance,” he said.

“We felt there was more we could do to help with the implementation.”

Shiu acknowledged that SMEs might not have the same resources available to large corporations, such as the ability to hire a legal team or consultants to help ensure compliance with the ordinance.

“Some businesses also said while they have a basic grasp of the ordinance, there was also misunderstanding and confusion, which could be explained in detail through this website to help debunk any myths,” he said.