News

“Unleashing the Tiger”: University of Melbourne to host conference on competition law in China and Hong Kong

Media Release, Friday 3 October 2008

Significant developments in competition regulation in China and Hong Kong will be under the spotlight as senior government representatives, legal experts and business academics from across Australia, as well as China and Hong Kong, come to the Melbourne Law School in October.

The “Unleashing The Tiger: Competition Law in China and Hong Kong” conference on Saturday, October 4 will be officially opened by the new Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the Honourable Chief Justice Robert French.

Journalists please note: selected papers for the conference are available ahead of time, please contact below. Dr Beaton-Wells and some speakers are also available for interview.

The conference will deal with the substantive legal and practical enforcement issues relating to China’s long-awaited ‘Anti-Monopoly Law’, and Hong Kong’s conclusion of a consultation process on proposals for its first competition law.

It is being presented by the Melbourne Law School, and sponsored by competition law firm Gilbert + Tobin, the Australia and New Zealand School of Government and the Asian Competition Forum.

Speakers include Will Irving (General Counsel for Telstra), Professor Allan Fells AO (Australia and New Zealand School of Government), Professor Mark Williams (Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Asian Competition Forum) and the University’s Andrew Godwin (also Linklaters).

Dr Caron Beaton-Wells, Director of Studies for Competition Law at the University of Melbourne says the recent events in China will have substantial implications for businesses and their advisors, governments and regulations across the Asia-Pacific region.

“The conference will take a closer look at some of the key questions and challenges that will face businesses and governments with ongoing dealings in the China region.

“How will the new regimes affect foreign firms investing and doing business in China and Hong Kong? What have been the impetuses for and processes of change? How will the new laws deal with the special challenges posed by administrative monopolies?”

Registration forms and full event details are available from the Melbourne Law School website here: www.law.unimelb.edu.au/index.cfm?objectid=4B1D1CB1-B0D0-AB80-E28E8C05438EC230&DiaryID=3878