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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:
The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (November 20) pursued 15 claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $250,000 on behalf of 50 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At the tribunal's hearing today, the four defendants, including Hui Kwong On trading as Nam Wah Tung Kong Restaurant, Chiu Sin Lun Roland trading as Alan Engineering Co., HHOME Cafˆm Limited and Poon Ng Tang trading as Pun Kee Construction Co., did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $47,610.97, $46,059.58, $44,456.32 and $7,830.4, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other 11 defendants, comprising Man Cheong Construction Engineering Company Limited, Lik Keung Engineering Limited, Chan Nai Ming & Chan Hiu Loong formerly trading as Sun Hung Wan Roasted Meat (translation), Loading Media & Entertainment Limited, Kingspond Limited, Lik Keung Construction Engineering Limited, Leung Sai Ming trading as Cathay Transport Company, Ho Yuen Ching, Chan Lap Shun & Chan Yung Mee formerly trading as Melson Pharmacy, Full House Garment (Hong Kong) Limited, Wong Kwok Hung trading as Hung Kee Frozen Meat Co. and So Po Fung & Chow Kin Yuen formerly trading as T&T Electronics Co., did not appear at today¡¦s hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $40,592.26, $31,128.44, $12,589.6, $10,856, $9,048.43, $3,891.06, $1,260, $860.6, $836.28, $792.14 and $88.02 being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The Adjudicator also ordered Kingspond Limited to pay the MPFA the sum of $5,000 being the financial penalty imposed by the MPFA for failure to make MPF contributions for its employees.
The amounts awarded at the tribunal will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The Tribunal further ordered the respective defendants to pay $230, $230, $271, $90, $160, $169, $127, $200, $80, $105, $140, $230, $86, $130 and $150 as the costs in respect of the claims.
Man Cheong Construction Engineering Company Limited pleaded guilty previously at Kwun Tong Magistracy to six counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $18,500.
Ends/Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:48
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