****************************************

Six employers were fined a total of $97,600 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (January 5), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance.

In the first case, the defendant, Onrich Investment Limited was convicted in an ex-parte hearing to a charge of failing to make MPF contributions on time, after making deduction from the income of three employees between July 2002 and January 2003, between July and December 2002, and between October and December 2002 respectively. The defendant was fined $5,000 for the first summons and $1,000 each for the remaining 15 summonses, totaling $20,000.

In the second case, the defendant, New Chinese Medicine (HK) Limited pleaded guilty to 14 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time, after making deduction from the income of two employees between July 2002 and June 2003, and between November and December 2002. The defendant was fined $4,000 for the third summons and $1,200 each for the remaining summonses, totaling $19,600.

In the third case, the defendant, Wondergold Limited pleaded guilty to seven counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time, after making deduction from the income of one employee between January and July 2003. The defendant was fined $4,000 for the first summons and $1,000 each for the remaining summonses, totaling $10,000.

In the fourth case, the defendant, Southwell Engineering Limited pleaded guilty to nine counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time, after making deduction from the income of one employee between July 2002 and March 2003. The defendant was fined $5,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the remaining summonses, totaling $21,000.

In the fifth case, the defendant, Tomato Racing Revolution Limited pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time, after making deduction from the income of one employee between July and August 2002. The defendant was fined $4,000 for the first summons and $2,000 for the remaining summons, totaling $6,000.

Another defendant, Chung Kin Ming Daniel trading as Syntax Computer Training Company pleaded guilty to 14 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time, after making deduction from the income of one employee between July 2002 and August 2003. The defendant was fined $8,000 for the first summons and $1,000 each for the remaining summonses, totaling $21,000.

Meanwhile, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (January 5) pursued six claims in the Small Claims Tribunal, totalling some $223,000 on behalf of 16 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.

At today's hearing, Compass Group Limited and Likease Services Limited did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sum of $49,430.28 and $47,833.82 respectively, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.

The other defendants, namely, Maylex Limited trading as Amoy Sea Food Restaurant, Forkids Toys Limited, Shun Tat (China-HK) Transportation Limited and Chong, Leung & Co. did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sum of $48,566.61, $42,626.36, $27,784.95 and $6,866.78 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 payments of $170, $170, $340, $170, $290 and $390 as costs in respect of the claims.

Ends/Monday, 5 January, 2004

NNNN