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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority :
The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (February 22) obtained orders for payment of outstanding MPF contributions at about $960,000 against three employers in the District Court. Meanwhile, the MPFA also pursued four claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $63,000 on behalf of 14 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
The District Court issued judgments against three employers, namely, Tat Wan Engineering Limited, Leung Yuen Hon trading as Pak See Kut Cake Shop, and Law Kam Hung and Lam Ka Ming formerly trading as Sun Tong Fong Motors Co. The defendants were ordered to pay the MPFA the sums of $648,596.39, $210,239.13 and $101,194.39, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable to 20, 15 and five employees of the defendants respectively.
At the tribunal's hearing today, one defendant, Painting International Beauty Limited, did not dispute the amount claimed. The adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA the sum of $37,550.81, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other three defendants, Best Development Service Limited, K-Foods Hong Kong Limited and Wealthy Time Investment Limited trading as Fuk Wan Seafood Hotpot Restaurant, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $13,950.31, $7,610 and $3,937.5, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts awarded at both 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 ordered the defendants to pay costs of $930, $930 and $970. The tribunal ordered the respective defendants to pay $176, $96, $96 and $166 as the costs in respect of the claims.
Painting International Beauty Limited pleaded guilty previously at Kwun Tong Magistracy to 16 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $18,000.
Ends/Friday, February 22, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:11
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