********************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:
The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (22 August) pursued six claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $160,000 on behalf of 31 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At the Tribunal's hearing today, the two defendants, Tang Choi Yuk trading as Sun Lam Kee Tung Kwong Restaurant and Cheung Kin Kai Thomas trading as Admand Optical Company, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $28,983.58 and $10,400 respectively, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other four defendants, including Arbat Construction Company Limited, So Pui Wan formerly trading as Bright Honest Restaurant, New Kwan Kee Frozen Meat Limited formerly known as Fuko Foods (Hong Kong) Limited and Real Dragon Investment Limited trading as Rico Bistro, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $49,458.15, $47,387.42, $28,270.17 and $559.7, 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 Tribunal further ordered defendants to pay $180, $150, $170, $250, $274 and $146 respectively as the costs in respect of the claims.
Real Dragon Investment Limited trading as Rico Bistro also pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier to three counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $10,000.
Ends/Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:45
NNNN