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The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (December 8) pursued six claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $160,000 on behalf of 14 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At today's hearing, the defendants, Lee Ping Kong trading as Luen Hing Cargo Breaker & Transport Co, Compact Building Materials Company Limited and Gurung Krishan Kumari trading as Mr Nepal Restaurant, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $35,033.6, $29,958.11 and $10,519.94, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable. The Adjudicator also ordered Lee Ping Kong trading as Luen Hing Cargo Breaker & Transport Co to pay the MPFA the sums of $5,000 as financial penalty.
The other three defendants, Chinese Club Discount Centre Limited, Champion Asia Development Limited trading as Kam Chuen Restaurant and Tse Shun Nam trading as Hung Fat Car Services, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $48,840.88, $43,376.1 and $321.5, 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 $230, $120, $150, $170, $170 and $110 as the costs in respect of the claims.
Compact Building Materials Company Limited pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier to five counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $16,000.
Ends/Friday, December 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:12
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