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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 (October 29) obtained one order for payment of outstanding MPF contributions at about $220,000 against an employer in the District Court. The MPFA also pursued three claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $60,000 on behalf of 18 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
The District Court today issued judgement against one employer, Wah Tai Farm Company Limited. The defendant was ordered to pay the MPFA the sum of $221,526.41, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable to 45 employees of the defendant.
At the tribunal's hearing today, one of the defendants, Lau Yiu Bun trading as Lau Ho Wei Ship Yard, did not dispute the amount claimed. The adjudicator ordered him to pay the MPFA the sum of $17,308.87, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other two defendants, Grandroy Investments Limited trading as Worldart Restaurant & Kitchen and Lo Kam Fu trading as Way Hang Shed Engineering Company, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $41,360.01 and $1,249.5, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts 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 ordered the defendant to pay costs of $930. The tribunal ordered the respective defendants, other than Lau Yiu Bun trading as Lau Ho Wei Ship Yard, to pay $262 and $200 respectively as the costs in respect of the claims.
Ends/Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:13
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