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The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (November 27) pursued twelve claims in the Small Claims Tribunal, totalling some $186,000 on behalf of 33 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.

At today's hearing, Le Hibou Limited and Dragon Investment Development Limited did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sum of $18,595.20 and $15,853.43 respectively, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.

The other defendants, namely, Law Wing Kee Engineering Company Limited, Leung Ping Yiu, Cheung Kwok Wai, Cheung Kwok Fai & Cheung Kwok Cheung trading as Mei May Chai Rest, Tse Chong Yeung, Tse Muk Chun, Wong Kam Tang and Wong King Wong trading as Kai Wah Fabric Printing Factory, Energy International Entertainment Enterprise Limited, Lee Pak Yau, Tammy Lynn Greenspon & Adam Ross Levin trading as Rocket Restaurant Group, Law Sing Lam, T L Sky Communication Limited, Wong Sau Nam trading as Chiu Kee Restaurant (Formerly known as Ngan Koon Restaurant) and Trans Link Courier Company Limited did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sum of $46,558.53, $28,988.93, $24,538.48, $16,233.00, $13,014.39, $10,717.22, $5,553.58, $3,734.86, $2,676.56 and $405.76 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 $280, $290, $170, $680, $580, $290, $240, $170, $180, $160, $230 and $250 as costs in respect of the claims.

Le Hibou Limited and Law Wing Kee Engineering Company Limited pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier to seventeen and eight counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and were fined $24,600 and $20,000 respectively.

Ends/Thursday, November 27, 2003

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