By Christopher Hooley, Partner

Hong Kong's Competition Bill (the Bill) was gazetted on 2nd July 2010. The Bill aims to prohibit conduct that has the purpose or effect of preventing, restricting or distorting competition in Hong Kong and to prohibit mergers that could substantially lessen competition in Hong Kong.

If enacted, the Bill will have far reaching implications for all companies conducting business in Hong Kong.

By Christopher Hooley, Partner

The Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2010 was published in the Gazette on 16th July 2010. It is likely to come into force upon the implementation of Phase II of the Integrated Companies Registry Information System (ICRIS II) by the Companies Registry early in 2010.

Under the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2010, a number of provisions are amended to facilitate on-line applications for company registration, for example, to allow the signing of the incorporation forms using passwords, streamline the attestation requirements for signatures by founder members, and facilitate the issue of certificates of incorporation by the Registrar of Companies through electronic means.