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The following is issued on behalf of the MPFA:
Two employers were fined $27,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (September 3), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance.
Ballball Catering Company Limited trading as Ballball Avenue was fined a total of $14,000 for failing to enrol two employees in MPF schemes as required by the ordinance.
Year Rich Limited pleaded guilty to five counts of failing to make MPF contributions for an employee within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between January and May, 2007. The defendant was fined $5,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the remaining summonses, a total of $13,000.
The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) obtained orders in the District Court for payment of outstanding MPF contributions at about $760,000 against three employers. The MPFA also pursued five claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $60,000 on behalf of 64 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
The District Court issued judgements against Wang Kee Laundry Company Limited, Wakee Home Fitting Company Limited and HKB2B Limited. The defendants were ordered to pay the MPFA $647,179.13, $59,827.02 and $51,958.52, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable to 25, five and one employees of the defendants respectively.
At the tribunal's hearing, the five defendants - So Pui Wan formerly trading as Bright Honest Restaurant, Ultimate Engineering Limited, Guo Kang Pharmaceutical & Medical Supplies Limited, Chan Siu Ping trading as Younger Beauty Centre and Broad Wisdom Limited trading as Fullrich Hotpot & Seafood Restaurant, did not appear. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $34,251.66, $14,490, $4,866.92, $4,791.15 and $1,605.46, 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 cases and $250, $96, $112, $90 and $206 for the tribunal cases as the costs in respect of the claims.
Ends/Monday, September 3, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:34
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