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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:
Three employers were fined $28,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (February 4), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485).
Ming Wah Construction And Engineering Limited pleaded guilty at the Kwun Tong Magistracy for breaching section 43D(1)(b) of the ordinance for failing to comply with a lawful requirement made by the MPFA in the course of exercising or performing its functions. The defendant was fined $4,000.
Chun Shing Resources Company Limited pleaded guilty to an offence under section 7(1A)(b) of the ordinance. The defendant was fined $12,000 for the summons for failing to enroll an employee in an MPF scheme as required by the ordinance.
Yim To Chun trading as Ming Fat Transport Co. was charged for an offence under section 7A(8) of the ordinance. The defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to make MPF contributions for its employee within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between July and August 2006, and March and April 2007. The defendant was fined $6,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the remaining summonses, totalling $12,000.
Meanwhile, the MPFA obtained an order for payment of outstanding MPF contributions at about $3,000 against one employer in the District Court.
The District Court issued a judgment against the employer, Armed Forces Security (H.K.) Limited. The defendant was ordered to pay the MPFA the sum of $3,709.48, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable to four employees of the defendant.
The MPFA also pursued two claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $80,000 on behalf of three employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At the tribunal's hearing today, the two defendants, Man Cheong Construction Engineering Company Limited and Food Master Food & Beverage Limited, did not appear. In their absence, the adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $81,627.43 and $815.72, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts both awarded at the District Court and the tribunal will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The District Court and the tribunal further ordered the defendants to pay costs of $930 for the District Court cases and $476 and $86 for the tribunal cases.
Man Cheong Construction Engineering Company Limited pleaded guilty previously at Kwun Tong Magistracy to six counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $18,500.
Ends/Monday, February 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:56
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