Hong Kong to lower burden of proof for competition penalty cases
( October 30, 2026, 10:04 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: Hong Kong plans to introduce legislative changes that would expressly apply the "balance of probabilities" standard to civil penalty proceedings under the Competition Ordinance and establish a statutory presumption linking concerted practices among businesses to their subsequent market conduct. In a statement Friday, the government said it also proposed extending the maximum duration of director disqualification orders from five years to 15 years and lengthening the statutory time limit for penalty applications and other Competition Tribunal orders from five to 10 years. The proposal sits alongside proposed criminalization measures targeting bid rigging in building maintenance projects, as part of reforms prompted by last year's deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court.Statement follows....
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