Employer fined for breaching MPFS Ordinance
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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:

    An employer was fined $12,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (February 1), after being convicted of an offence under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance.

    Everwell Auto-Service & Engineering Limited, which committed an offence under section 7(1A)(b) of the ordinance, was convicted of failing to enrol an employee in an MPF scheme.

    The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today pursued two claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $3,000 on behalf of 10 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers. The MPFA also pursued three claims in the Small Claims Tribunal yesterday (January 31) for some $45,000 on behalf of three employees.

    At the tribunal's hearing today, the defendants, Lucky Dragon Boat (Sai Wan) Restaurant Limited and Lam Lung Ki and Lam Kwok Ping Trading as Kam Fat Restaurant, did not appear. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $1,596 and $1,278, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.

    At yesterday's tribunal's hearing, King Kong Development Limited trading as Sun Kong Seafood Hotpot Restaurant, did not dispute the amount claimed. The Adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA  $2,286.25, being mandatory contributions in arrears.

    The other two defendants did not appear at the hearing and were ordered to pay $33,131.70 and $9,870, 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 the respective defendants to pay costs of $136 and $150 in respect of the claims for today's cases and $206, $170 and $80 for yesterday's cases.

Ends/Friday, February 1, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:27

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