bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
        published
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
        published
      }
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        relatedNewsletters {
          ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
          id
        }
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
  ... on Video {
    youtubeId
  }
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on SectionUnion {
  __isSectionUnion: __typename
  ... on Section {
    name
  }
  ... on VideoSection {
    name
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


types

sectionsV2

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

Matthew Cheng

The Hong Kong Bar Association has proposed criminalising bid-rigging by introducing a “double-track” approach to the Competition Ordinance, describing it as a quick fix to increase deterrence and encourage more whistle-blowers to expose industry malpractice following the city’s deadliest fire in decades.
Under the current civil regime established in 2015, the ordinance only punishes individuals involved in serious anticompetitive acts, such as bid-rigging, with fines.
But the new proposal calls for creating a separate “criminal track” to tackle such acts and suggested a maximum penalty of seven years in prison, association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet told the South China Morning Post.
An association task force reviewed the local legislation and studied practices in other jurisdictions, following last November’s Tai Po fire, which claimed 168 lives and displaced nearly 5,000 residents.
In 2008, a government consultation document on competition laws described the proposal for the existing ordinance as a new step for Hong Kong, with authorities deciding to impose only civil sanctions rather than criminal penalties.
Maurellet said that introducing a criminal track for prosecuting “persons involved in contravention of competition rules” under the ordinance would work alongside the “civil track” to increase deterrence.

“You also create, sometimes having what we call the ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging over people’s heads,” he said, referring to an ancient Greek idiom that signifies a looming catastrophic threat.
“Or if they know there’s a criminal track, that in itself we think would dissuade a lot of this sort of terrible behaviour which has gone on.”
Maurellet described the new track – which should cover bid-rigging, price-fixing, market division and other serious anticompetitive conduct – as a quick fix that would require less consultation than an overhaul of the ordinance.
“Obviously, there are things you can do which are much more comprehensive, but those would take much more time,” he said.
The task force studied other criminal regimes that punished such acts, noting that the maximum jail term in the United Kingdom is five years and 14 years in Canada.
Maurellet said that a seven-year jail term for Hong Kong would offer a “balanced approach”.
He added that the new track should apply the criminal standard of proof “beyond a reasonable doubt”.
While proving collusion and agreements among parties in bid-rigging cases could pose a challenge, courts could proceed by inference when direct evidence was absent, he said.




Maurellet also said he hoped that stiffer penalties could encourage more whistle-blowers to come forward.
“Hopefully, if people feel that action will be taken, then they are more likely to report it,” he said.
“If citizens have the confidence that the executive authorities will take their complaints seriously, they are much more likely to also make more complaints and refer to information.”
The task force planned to put forward its proposals to the government after the independent committee examining the blaze concluded its work, he added.
The ongoing evidential hearings have pointed to alleged malpractice in the HK$336 million (US$43 million) renovation tender for Wang Fuk Court and revealed that at least two bid-rigging syndicates were linked to the project.
Lawmakers, barristers and the POD Research Institute think tank have also called for the criminalisation of bid-rigging.
In a reply to a lawmaker in February, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said it would review the competition regime, taking into account the implementation of the ordinance and the experience of other jurisdictions, with a view to strengthening deterrence against bid-rigging.
The hearings by the judge-led independent committee also saw several key witnesses refusing to testify, including the director of Wang Fuk Court’s renovation contractor, Prestige Construction and Engineering, and the consultant, Will Power Architects.
On whether the government should turn the panel into a commission of inquiry, Maurellet cautioned that doing so could lengthen the process.
“Sometimes we have to strike a balance between including everything and everyone, and it lasts for years and years, and you won’t get any answers for those years,” he said.
“Or you have a more targeted approach. So there are pros and cons to everything.”


Separately, homeowners at Wang Fuk Court face an August deadline to decide whether to accept the government’s acquisition offer. Authorities have not ruled out using legislation to acquire all property titles if necessary.
Maurellet described the situation at the estate as highly unusual, citing both safety and economic considerations. He also noted that if only a small number of owners refused to sell their flats, they could face disproportionate management and upkeep fees.
Drawing parallels with existing legislation, such as the Urban Renewal Authority’s power to acquire minority ownership in certain circumstances, he emphasised that any dedicated legislation must guarantee fair compensation value in line with the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.
“It’s got to ensure that it’s fair, [that] owners have an opportunity to air their opposition and grievances,” Maurellet said.
As for whether the acquisition of the flats would affect potential civil actions against responsible parties, he said the complex question hinged on the contract or the settlement agreement.
Maurellet noted that personal claims, such as injuries, would be unaffected by the sale of the flats, but rights tied to the property could be transferred as long as ownership was passed.
“That’s certainly something I think those who decide to sell should bear in mind and get their own advice,” he cautioned.
During the interview, Maurellet also raised concerns about the March amendment to the implementation rules of the Beijing-enacted national security law, which laid out procedures for handling materials protected by legal professional privilege.
He pointed to the short time frame for defendants to challenge authorities, particularly whether those without legal representatives who needed to apply for legal aid could file the application in a timely manner.
He called on the Legal Aid Department to ensure such applications could move at the required pace under the rules.
“We want to ensure that a defendant is not caught unawares,” he said.


Bar Association proposes ‘double-track’ approach to criminalising bid-rigging

The Hong Kong Bar Association has proposed criminalising bid-rigging by introducing a “double track” approach to the Competition Ordinance. Photo: Jelly Tse

Bar Association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet has described the proposed track as a quick fix that would require less consultation than an overhaul of the ordinance. Photo: Karma Lo

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet says implementing ‘criminal track’ alongside ‘civil track’ to encourage whistle-blowing will increase deterrence


Chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet says implementing ‘criminal track’ alongside ‘civil track’ to encourage whistle-blowing will increase deterrence.


Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Hong Kong Bar Association (HKBA)

Jose-Antonio Maurellet

Bar Association proposes ‘double-track’ approach to criminalising bid-rigging

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet says implementing ‘criminal track’ alongside ‘civil track’ to encourage whistle-blowing will increase deterrence

Chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet says implementing ‘criminal track’ alongside ‘civil track’ to encourage whistle-blowing will increase deterrence