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An employer was fined $7,500 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (11 April), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance.

The defendant, Fook Kee Plastic Metal Manufactory Company Limited, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time, after making deduction from the income of four employees between April and July 2004.  The defendant was fined $2,000 for the first summons, and $500 each for the remaining 11 summonses, totalling $7,500.

Meanwhile, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today pursued 13 claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $170,000 on behalf of 26 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.

At today's hearing, Hin Sum Manpower Company Limited, Creative Glory Limited trading as Hoi Fai Restaurant (translation) and Great Will Enterprise Limited trading as Kar Choi Seafood Hot-pot Restaurant did not dispute the amounts claimed.  The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $48,257.35, $33,558.14 and $21,838.83, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.

Ten other defendants, namely, Close To Heart Co. Limited, Glory Engineering And Trading Limited, UEA Insurance Brokers Company Limited, Ching Nga Proofreading (Productions) Limited trading as Ching Nga Proof-reading Production Co., Chung Lip Foods Production Limited, Engsale Company Limited, Speedy Express International Limited, Chan Chun Hung and Chan Pui Wah trading as Yun Fat Chinese Restaurant, Glory (E & M) Limited and Profit Harvest Investment Limited trading as Pan Lan Cheng Restaurant (translation) did not appear at today's hearing.  In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $20,645.70, $11,163.40, $10,765.89, $5,836.20, $5,427.49, $3,988.32, $3,456.10, $3,450.66, $2,961.00 and $1,068.50 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 $160, $450, $240, $110, $100, $310, $190, $260, $330, $100, $360, $80 and $270 as costs in respect of the claims.

Close To Heart Co. Limited and Speedy Express International Limited pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier to five and 10 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and were fined $6,700 and $14,000 respectively.

On the other hand, the District Court today issued judgments against two employers, namely, Chantarasagiam Montha trading as Tak Kee Company and Ngan Cheung Hung trading as Chi Hing Frozen Meat Company. The defendants were ordered to pay the MPFA the sums of $148,253.38 and $118,119.30 respectively, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable to nine employees of the defendants.

The amounts awarded will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The court further ordered each defendant to pay $930 as the cost of the claims.

Ends/Monday, April 11, 2005

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