《競爭快訊》

Competition Matters

第13期 Issue No. 13  11/2020

資訊科技公司交換未來價格意向被判罰

IT company sanctioned for exchange of future price intention

2020 年 11 月 3 日，審裁處裁定資訊科技公司 Quantr Ltd（Quantr）及其董事（答辯人）在海洋公園公司進行的一次招標中，與競爭對手交換未來定價資料，構成合謀定價，違反或牽涉入違反《競爭條 例》（《條例》）。按審裁處發出的命令，Quantr須按競委會建議支付罰款 37,702港元，而兩名答辯人均須支付競委會的訟費。審裁處亦接納了競委會的建議，暫緩原本提出的其餘幾項申索，條件是答辯人須向其全體職員推行競爭合規計劃。

本案代表著競委會執法工作的幾個重要里程碑。首先，本案是競委會首次於訴訟初期便與答辯人達成協議，並以同意方式處理有關法律責任及採取補救方法，節省了大量時間及費用。此外，這亦是香港 競爭法體系下首個源於企業成功申請寬待而入稟的個案。競委會於案中亦首次使用了違章通知書，處理同樣參與了該合謀行為的公司 Nintex Proprietary Limited 的事宜。

按此瀏覽詳情。

On 3 November 2020, the Tribunal ruled that IT company Quantr Ltd. and its director (Respondents) contravened or were involved in the contravention of the Competition Ordinance by engaging in the exchange of future pricing information in a bidding exercise organised by the Ocean Park Corporation. The conduct amounted to price fixing under the Ordinance. The Tribunal ordered Quantr to pay the pecuniary penalty of HK$37,702 recommended by the Commission and that both Respondents pay the Commission’s costs of proceedings. The Tribunal also accepted the Commission’s recommendation to suspend the remaining claims originally sought on condition that the Respondents conduct a competition compliance programme for all of its staff.

This case marks several important enforcement milestones for the Commission. It is the first case in which the Commission and the Respondents reached agreement to resolve both the liability and relief portions of the proceedings by consent at an early stage, saving both sides significant time and costs. It also represents the first proceedings in Hong Kong’s competition regime resulting from a successful leniency application. The Commission also made use of an infringement notice as a remedy for the first time to resolve the matter with respect to Nintex Proprietary Limited, which also participated in the cartel conduct.

Click HERE for details.

競委會接納香港海港聯盟的承諾

Commission accepts commitments by Hong Kong Seaport Alliance

競委會較早前完成了對香港海港聯盟的調查，有關調查 著眼於聯盟會否損害在香港的競爭，違反《條例》下的 第一行為守則。就競委會的調查結果，聯盟早前建議作出承諾，以釋除競委會的疑慮。競委會遂於8月就聯盟 的建議承諾諮詢公眾，其後於10月30日宣布接納經修訂後的承諾。

聯盟是以合約形式進行的聯營安排，由香港國際貨櫃碼頭有限公司、現代貨箱碼頭有限公司、中遠─國際貨櫃碼頭（香港）有限公司及亞洲貨櫃碼頭有限公司組成。根據聯盟的協議，各成員會透過在運作、商業及財務上的協調，共同經營及管理他們在香港葵青港（葵青）的8個貨櫃碼頭共 23 個泊位。葵青的第五個貨櫃碼頭營運商 Goodman DP World Hong Kong Limited（DP World），並不是聯盟的成員。

有關承諾包括：為門戶港貨物處理費設定上限，並維持特定服務水平；為「其他使用者費用」設定上限；維持與 DP World的互惠服務安排；及避免於赤灣港及蛇口港任命與聯盟相同的董事。各成員亦在承諾中加入了一項說明，陳述了他們所採取的計劃及機制，以確保顧客能分享到聯盟預期可帶來的經濟效益。獨立的監察受託人將代表競委會監察各成員遵守承諾的情況。

按此瀏覽聯盟的承諾及競委會的接受通知書。

On 30 October 2020, the Commission announced acceptance of commitments offered by the parties to the Hong Kong Seaport Alliance. The acceptance follows a public consultation in August on an earlier set of commitments proposed by the Alliance, which aimed to address the Commission’s concerns arising from its investigation of whether the Alliance may constitute a contravention of the First Conduct Rule of the Ordinance by harming competition in Hong Kong.

The Alliance is a contractual joint venture between Hongkong International Terminals Limited, Modern Terminals Limited, COSCO-HIT Terminals (Hong Kong) Limited, and Asia Container Terminals Limited. Pursuant to the Alliance, the parties jointly operate and manage their 23 berths across eight terminals at Kwai Tsing port in Hong Kong, through operational, commercial and financial coordination. The fifth operator at Kwai Tsing, Goodman DP World Hong Kong Limited (“DP World”), is not a party to the Alliance.

The commitments include capping handling charges and maintaining service levels for Gateway cargo, capping “Other Counterparty Charges”, maintaining overflow arrangements with DP World and avoiding crossdirectorships with Chiwan and Shekou ports. The Alliance parties have also added in the commitments an explicit reference to the plans and mechanisms they adopted to ensure customers receive a fair share of the efficiencies anticipated by the Alliance.

Compliance with the commitments will be monitored by an independent monitoring trustee on behalf of the Commission.

Click HERE for the commitments and the Commission’s notice of acceptance.

為非專注競爭法的律師提供培訓

Training for lawyers who are not competition law specialists

競委會於 2020 年 10 月舉辦了一系列共四場網上培訓講座，以協助未有競爭法經驗或相關經驗較淺的律師，就競爭法事宜向客戶提供意見。課程講者包括競委會人員、以及競爭法私人執業律師，內容除了涵蓋《條例》的主要條文，亦介紹了法例的實務應用，包括如何協助客戶確保企業合規及適當地應對調查。超過170名法律界從業員參與了是次培訓，期間亦就不同議題作出討論。

The Commission conducted a webinar series over four afternoons in October 2020 to help lawyers with limited or no competition law experience to advise their clients on matters related to competition law. Delivered by staff and executives from the Commission, as well as competition lawyers in private practice, the training not only covered key provisions of the Competition Ordinance, but also practical application of the law including how to help clients ensure compliance and respond appropriately to an investigation. Over 170 legal practitioners joined the training with many thoughtful questions posed and discussed throughout the sessions.

競委會展開打擊合謀定價宣傳活動

Commission launches advocacy campaign to combat price fixing

競委會於11月初展開了「打擊合謀定價」宣傳活動，讓社會大眾認識和了解合謀定價及其禍害，鼓勵各界守法，以及加強偵測有關行為。

合謀定價是本港最常見的合謀行為之一，任何界別均有可能發生，有關行為令消費者及企業無法受惠於有效的市場競爭。而至目前為止競委會已入稟審裁處的六宗個案中，五宗均涉及不同形式的合謀定價，而審裁處至今已就其中四宗案件裁定競委會勝訴。這帶出了一個強烈的訊息：合謀定價是法律所不容許的行為。

是次宣傳活動包括新一輯由著名藝人鄭子誠主演的電視宣傳片及五條教育短片，介紹與合謀定價有關的重要概念，以喚起公眾的關注。為加深大眾對這種行為的認識，競委會同時發布了小冊子，簡介不同形式的合謀定價行為、如何辨識該等行為，以及當有可疑情況發生時應如何處理等等。此外，競委會亦將會為企業舉辦一系列主題講座，詳情可瀏覽「打擊合謀定價」資訊中心。

The Commission launched a “Combat Price Fixing Cartels” Campaign (Campaign) in early November to enhance public awareness and understanding of price fixing and its harm as well as to encourage compliance and strengthen detection of such conduct.

Price fixing is one of the most common types of cartel conduct in Hong Kong that can occur in any sector, depriving consumers and businesses of the benefits of effective market competition. Of the six cases brought before the Tribunal so far, five were related to price fixing in different forms. The Tribunal had to date ruled in the Commission’s favour four of these cases, sending a strong warning that such practices are clearly not acceptable under the law.

The Campaign includes a new TV announcement and five infotainment ads featuring actor Timothy Cheng Tse-sing to arouse public attention and explain the key concepts of price fixing. To deepen public understanding, the Commission has published a brochure outlining different types of price fixing with useful tips on how to identify it and what to do should it be suspected. A series of thematic seminars will also be conducted for businesses from different sectors in the coming months. Visit the “Combat Price Fixing” Information Centre for more details.

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