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The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (May 16) pursued three claims in the Small Claims Tribunal, totaling some $69,000 on behalf of six employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.

The defendants were Calway International Limited trading as Fook Hing Hot-Pot Seafood Restaurant, Wong Chi Sang trading as Beckon Business Service and Plenitude Container Transportation Company Limited.

In two separate cases at Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier, Calway International Limited trading as Fook Hing Hot-Pot Seafood Restaurant pleaded guilty to 25 and 6 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $75,000 and 30,000 respectively.

At today's hearing, Wong Chi Sang trading as Beckon Business Service did not dispute the amount claimed. The Adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA the sum of $13,242.41, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.

The other defendants, namely, Calway International Limited trading as Fook Hing Hot-Pot Seafood Restaurant and Plenitude Container Transportation Company Limited did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sum of $44,155.35 and $12,211.22 respectively, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.

The amounts awarded will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The court further awarded payments of $310, $320 and $360 as costs in respect of the claims.

End/Friday, May 16, 2003

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