Inaugural training course helps further enhance SMEs’ competition compliance in Hong Kong

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Ensuring lawful operations and compliance to mitigate legal risks is fundamental to companies’ long-term growth and development. However, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Hong Kong, constrained by limited resources, find it particularly challenging to implement effective compliance measures, especially for laws that do not appear to be straightforward. Recognising these difficulties, the Competition Commission has introduced the “Small and Medium Enterprise Competition Compliance Hub” (SME Hub) earlier this year.

To bolster its support for SMEs in the area of compliance, the Commission is launching its inaugural competition law compliance training course this June. This initiative is highly anticipated by SME representatives, with the expectations that the training will help businesses mitigate the risk of contraventions.

A decade of law enforcement

The Competition Ordinance came into full force in Hong Kong in late 2015. The Commission has stepped up its enforcement efforts ever since, bringing before the Competition Tribunal 15 cases involving 48 undertakings and 24 individuals across various sectors. All eight cases resolved to date have ended in favourable outcomes for the Commission.

In addition to litigating cases, the Commission has utilised non-litigation remedies in six cases securing commitments from parties involved or issuing infringement notices. These proactive measures are designed to halt anti-competitive behaviour and ensure robust safeguards are in place to prevent future contraventions.