Bar Association Backs Criminalisation of Bid-Rigging as Victor Dawes Says Penalty Level Is Close to Other Common Law Jurisdictions

The Hong Kong Bar Association has published a report setting out about 50 legislative amendment proposals and, in principle, supports amending the Competition Ordinance to criminalise bid-rigging, running in parallel with civil enforcement. Chairman Victor Dawes said the authorities proposed that bid-rigging, price-fixing, market-sharing and output restriction in building maintenance tendering carry a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment and a $10 million fine, a level close to that of other common law jurisdictions. The association also proposed clarifying whether the leniency mechanism remains effective under criminal prosecution.