*************************************************
Nine employers were fined a total of $123,800 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (7 November), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance.
In the first case, the defendant, Fitto Company Limited, pleaded guilty to five counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time for an employee between January and May 2005. The defendant was fined $4,000 for the first summons and $1,500 each for the other four summonses, totalling $10,000.
In the second case, the defendant, Gee Boutique Fashion Limited, pleaded guilty to one count of failing to make MPF contributions on time for an employee in May 2005 and was fined $6,000.
In the third case, the defendant, Walter Ma & Company Limited, pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time for an employee in February 2005, and between April and June 2005. The defendant was fined $6,000 for the first summons and $1,500 each for the other three summonses, totalling $10,500.
In the fourth case, the defendant, Tam Kam Yin trading as The Great Wall Co., pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time for an employee between April and July 2005. The defendant was fined $4,000 for the first summons and $1,200 for the other three summonses, totalling $7,600.
In the fifth case, the defendant, The Great Wall Industrial Limited, pleaded guilty to seven counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time for two employees between April and July 2005. The defendant was fined $4,000 for the first summons and $1,200 each for the other six summonses, totalling $11,200.
In the sixth case, the defendant, Bright Charter (Hong Kong) Limited trading as Tung Lok Hin, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time for three employees between October 2004 and July 2005. The defendant was fined $8,000 for the first summons and $2,500 each for the other 19 summonses, totalling $55,500.
In the seventh case, the defendant, Shangri-la International Limited trading as Soong Dynasty Restaurant, was fined $8,000 after pleading guilty of failing to enrol one employee in an MPF scheme.
In the eighth case, the defendant, China Electronic Information Technology Limited, pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time for an employee in January and March 2005. The defendant was fined $4,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the other two summonses, totalling $8,000.
In the ninth case, the defendant, Yeung Hoi Chin T/A Yiu Shing Company Hand Bag Factory (Formerly Known as Yeung Hoi Chin T/A Yiu Shing Company), was fined $7,000 after pleading guilty of failing to enrol one employee in an MPF scheme.
Meanwhile, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today pursued three claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $35,000 on behalf of three employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At today's hearing, the two defendants, Creditguard Consultants Service Limited and Rainbow Smart Investment Limited trading as Co Co Thai Restaurant, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sum of $29,291.70 and $3,551.99 respectively, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
Another defendant, Art Smart Holdings (HK) Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In its absence, the Adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA the sum of $1,909.84, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amount awarded will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The court further awarded payment of $110, $220 and $110 as costs in respect of the claims.
Ends/Monday, November 7, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:45
NNNN
