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The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (September 27) pursued seven claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $148,000 on behalf of 14 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At today's hearing, the defendants, Hui Ping Pui trading as Freetat Watch Products Company, Chung Lai Mui trading as Chung Shui Kee, Realman Transportation Limited, First Rate Logistics Limited and So Ching Lai formerly trading as Tung Ngai Studio, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of¢C36,000, $32,250, $25,023.08, $16,357 and $1,012.54, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other two defendants, Wong Chow trading as Empire Printing & Production Specialist and Dragon Empire Limited trading as Fishermans' Wharf Restaurant, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $30,507.07 and $7,560, 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 $230, $240, $360, $210, $40, $180 and $80 as the costs in respect of the claims.
First Rate Logistics Limited pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier to six counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $18,000.
Ends/Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:45
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