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The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (August 20) pursued three claims in the Small Claims Tribunal, totaling some $59,000 on behalf of 20 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.

The defendants were First Karaoke(HK) Limited trading as Big Echo Club Karaoke Box, Wong Man Keung trading as Jetwell Engineering Company and a sole proprietor operating a transportation company.

At today's hearing, Wong Man Keung trading as Jetwell Engineering Company did not dispute the amount claimed. The Adjudicator ordered him to pay the MPFA the sum of $9,089.68, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.

The other defendants, including First Karaoke(HK) Limited trading as Big Echo Club Karaoke Box and the sole proprietor operating a transportation company, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sum of $49,671.07 and $756.65 respectively, 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 payment of $190, $280 and $220 as costs in respect of the claims.

First Karaoke(HK) Limited trading as Big Echo Club Karaoke Box pleaded guilty at the Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier to eight counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $14,500.

End/Wednesday, August 20, 2003

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