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The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (August 3) pursued six claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $140,000 on behalf of 17 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At today's hearing, the defendants, Max Creator Limited trading as Hang Hing Seafood Hot Pot Restaurant and Waheungai Company Limited, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $23,129.37 and $18,351.5, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other four defendants, including Friendfield Label Manufacturing Limited, Poon Wai Kee Engineering Company Limited, Ho Wing Mun trading as Wing Fung Aluminium & Engineering Co and Wide Best Holdings Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $48,613.72, $48,300, $5,388.82 and $3,950.34, 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 $120, $140, $160, $160, $160 and $100 as the costs in respect of the claims.
Friendfield Label Manufacturing Limited and Poon Wai Kee Engineering Company Limited pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier to 11 and 16 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and were fined $16,000 and $65,500 respectively.
Ends/Thursday, August 3, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:14
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