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Two employers were fined $45,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (June 5), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance.
Graphimorph Company Limited was charged with offences under section 7A(8) of the ordinance. The defendant was convicted in an ex-parte hearing of failing to make MPF contributions for its employee within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between November and December, 2005. The defendant was fined $15,000 for the first summons and $6,000 for the other summons, totaling $21,000.
Gold Sea Engineering Limited was charged with offences under section 7A(8) of the ordinance. The defendant pleaded guilty to eight counts of failing to make MPF contributions for two employees within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between May and August, 2006. The defendant was fined $10,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the remaining summonses, totaling $24,000.
The MPFA obtained an order for payment of outstanding MPF contributions at about $63,000 against an employer in the District Court. The MPFA also pursued five claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $70,000 on behalf of six employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
The District Court today issued a judgment against an employer, Arta Printing (HK) Company Limited. The defendant was ordered to pay the MPFA $63,736.54, being mandatory contributions in arrears to one employee of the defendant.
At the tribunal's hearing today, the two defendants, Chan Ping Hong trading as Express Engineering Co and Wong Siu Lun and Wang Tat Chun formerly trading as Ask Computer Technology Company, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $47,083.02 and $192.66, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other three defendants, Tse Kin Ki trading as Wit Wealthy Industrial Co, Chuen Kee Restaurant and Lau Chui Wan trading as Hung Shing metal Co, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $23,666.22, $7,577.16 and $100.28, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts both 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 and the tribunal further ordered each of the respective defendants to pay costs of $930 for the District Court case and $170, $90, $180, $150 and $140 for the tribunal cases as the costs in respect of the claims.
Ends/Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:00
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