Mr. Samuel Chan, BBS, JP, Chairman of the Competition Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, graced us as our featured speaker at our fireside chat on 30 September 2024 to discuss “Evolution of Competition Law in the Ever-Competing World”. The event attracted business leaders and legal professionals from Hong Kong and afar including participants attending the 2024 Hong Kong Advanced Training Programme on International Law Practice, course provided by AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC), Asian Academy of International Law (AAIL) and the School of Law of the City University of Hong Kong.
Mr. Samuel Chan and Mr Nick Chan, BBS, MH, JP, the Director of AALCO-HKRAC shared views on the importance of competition law and the recent work carried out by the Competition Commission. Mr. Samuel Chan also provided valuable insights into Hong Kong’s role in the global development of competition law.
The session explored the spirit of competition law and its impact on consumer welfare and business innovation. It also discussed the challenges of the digital economy and market definition, as well as the collaboration and learning between Hong Kong and other jurisdictions regarding competition law. The dialogue focused on the following points:
- The spirit of competition law and its effects on consumer welfare and business innovation, emphasising the importance of fair competition.
- An exploration of Hong Kong’s digital economy and market competition, highlighting how to support small enterprises in their survival and development when facing large platforms.
- The definition of market power and its legal complexities, particularly in the context of Hong Kong. Participants stressed the challenges of defining markets and the factors that influence pricing.
- A discussion on the definition of market competition and its implications, especially regarding market share of technology platforms and the application of antitrust law.
- The living conditions in Hong Kong and the progress of business law in China, along with the sharing of experiences from various meetings and exchanges.
- The importance of business compliance, particularly in light of legal differences in the Greater Bay Area and other regions, emphasising the necessity of establishing compliance systems.
- An examination of the complex issues surrounding arbitration clauses and court jurisdiction in Hong Kong law, particularly how to handle conflicting agreements in private law actions.
- The salary issues between employers and recent graduates in Hong Kong’s labour market, as well as the associated legal framework.
We extend our gratitude to the Department of Justice of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Competition Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the AAIL, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, and the Young Executive Council-Federation of Hong Kong Industries!
