Hong Kong’s antitrust watchdog investigates Aberdeen fish market in joint operation over allegations of price fixing
- Competition Commission says it surveyed workers from more than 30 wholesalers at the Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market
- Anonymous industry representatives say market controlled by alleged triad members ‘to a certain degree’
Hong Kong’s antitrust watchdog has carried out a joint operation with other government departments at one of the city’s largest fish markets over allegations that wholesalers had engaged in price fixing.
The Competition Commission on Sunday said it had sought information and surveyed workers from more than 30 wholesalers at the Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market after it received a complaint alleging price fixing, adding it would work closely with the police force’s organised crime and triad bureau and other relevant departments in investigating the claim.
No arrests were made during the operation, which in addition to police, involved the departments of agriculture, fisheries and conservation, food and environmental hygiene, fire services and immigration. Officers from the Marine Department also took part.
“The commission received a complaint earlier alleging that wholesalers in the fish market engaged in price fixing when selling fisheries products, in contravention of the First Conduct Rule under the Competition Ordinance,” the watchdog said.
The rule prohibits businesses from making or giving effect to an agreement, engaging in a concerted practice, or making or giving effect to a decision of an association, if the object or effect is to harm competition in the city.
The commission urged industry workers and members of the public who had any information relating to the case to come forward.
Two representatives from the industry, including a merchant, who asked to remain anonymous because of personal safety concerns, said the Aberdeen market allegedly had been controlled by triad members “to a certain degree” for several years.
One of the representatives said some fishermen were told they could only sell their catch to certain wholesalers at a specific price, adding they were sometimes forced to agree to prices with a lower profit margin to protect their “moneymaking tools”, such as their boats.