***************************************

Two employers were fined a total of $26,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (July 8), after pleading guilty to failing to make Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions on time.

In the first case, First Karaoke (H.K.) Limited pleaded guilty to eight charges of failing to make MPF contributions on time, after making deductions from the income of two employees between December 2002 and March 2003. The defendant was fined $4,000 for the first summons, and $1,500 each for remaining seven summonses, totaling $14,500.

In the second case, the defendant, Top Good House Restaurant Limited, pleaded guilty to six counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time for three employees between December 2002 and January 2003. The defendant was fined $4,000 for the first summons, and $1,500 each for other five summonses, totaling $11,500.

MPFA wins three claims for MPF non-payment

******************************************

In the Small Claims Tribunal today, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) pursued three claims for some $14,000 on behalf of three employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers

The defendants were Eastern Express Systems International (HK) Limited, Bah Shok Hot Pot & Szechuan Restaurant and Perfect Line Engineering Limited.

The above defendants did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sum of $6,010.82, $5,527.88 and $3,382.26 respectively, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.

The amounts awarded will be reimbursed to the relevant employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. Amounts of $320, $80 and $330 were also awarded respectively as costs in respect of the claims.

End/Tuesday, July 8, 2003

NNNN