The Hong Kong Competition Authority publishes a cooperation and settlement policy expanding its leniency program

On 29 April 2019, the Hong Kong Competition Commission ('HKCC') published the Cooperation and Settlement Policy for Undertakings Engaged in Cartel Conduct ('Cooperation Policy'). In essence, the Cooperation Policy expands HKCC's Leniency Policy, published in November 2015, just before the full implementation of the Competition Ordinance. The expansion occurs in two main directions. First, the benefits of the existing leniency program can only accrue to a single company involved in a cartel (i.e., the first one to submit significant evidence on the cartel), while the Cooperation Policy is available to subsequent applicants. Second, the Cooperation Policy puts forward a new concept – _'Leniency Plus' – _which allows a company participating in a cartel to submit evidence of a new, separate