Officials in Hong Kong announced the goal to criminalize bid-rigging by April, aiming to enhance enforcement through the establishment of an inter-departmental task force. Rasul Butt, chief executive of the Competition Commission, stated that consultations with lawmakers over the proposed amendments are imminent, noting that the task force will include representatives from the commission, the police, and the Independent Commission Against Corruption, led by Chris Tang, Secretary for Security. Tang emphasized that sharing intelligence and databases within the task force would make the fight against bid-rigging more effective, as previously the police, the ICAC, and the Competition Commission conducted separate investigations. Tang assured that setting up the task force would not require additional resources and that members would attend meetings of owners' corporations in high-risk buildings to detect signs of bid-rigging. The task force will also rely on intelligence, undercover operations, and informers.
Officials said the proposed anti-bid-rigging measures would include consulting lawmakers over the amendments and obtaining stakeholder opinions, with the aim of implementing the criminalization by April, 2024. The inter-departmental task force, managed by Chris Tang, Secretary for Security, and comprising members from the Competition Commission, the police, and the Independent Commission Against Corruption, would share intelligence and conduct precise joint operations. Tang highlighted that under the Home Affairs Department's coordination, task force members would monitor high-risk buildings to identify potential bid-rigging, combining conventional and covert strategies.
Amendments to criminalize bid-rigging are being streamlined to be ready for implementation by April, officials stated. The task force, led by Chris Tang, aims to integrate resources and intelligence from various departments to combat the issue more effectively. In addition to high-risk meetings, the task force will utilize intelligence and informers to catch bid-rigging practices. These measures reflect a concerted effort to tackle the problem comprehensively and proactively.