Feedback call: Financial Secretary Henry Tang calls for public views on safeguarding competition.

At a public forum on the way forward for Hong Kong's competition policy today, Financial Secretary Henry Tang encouraged people to give their views on how best to safeguard competition.

The Competition Policy Review Committee, set up in June last year to review the current policy's effectiveness, recommended such a public consultation exercise.

The committee's Chairman Christopher Cheng highlighted key issues that the group had considered. It recommended a new, cross-sector competition law and a regulatory body to enforce it.

The group was also aware a proposal to introduce a new general competition law into Hong Kong might raise concerns, particularly in the business community, he said.

"The objective of any new law should not be to interfere the markets, or to affect normal business operations," Mr Cheng said. "It should aim to enhance the local business environment by providing a clear set of guidelines on appropriate standards of market discipline that would not discriminate against any firm, big or small."

The three-month consultation excercise will end in early February. Click here to see a copy of the document.