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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:
A member of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Scheme was convicted today (November 3) and fined $8,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrate for breaching section 43E of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485) by making false and misleading statement in a document submitted to the approved MPF trustee.
The defendant Chan Shu Hang was charged with making a false or misleading statement to the trustee.
The court heard that the defendant applied to the trustee on May 30 for early withdrawal of his MPF accrued benefits on the ground of permanent departure. An investigation by the MPFA found that the defendant did not leave Hong Kong permanently.
An MPFA spokesperson said the MPFA would continue to take tough enforcement action against this kind of offence. The MPFA also urged people not to try defying the law.
Four employers were fined a total of $18,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485).
Wiseman International Digitech Ltd was charged under section 7A(8) of the ordinance and pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to make MPF contributions for an employee within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between November 2007 and March 2008. The defendant was fined $1,000 for each summons, totalling $4,000.
Rich Long Logistics Limited pleaded guilty to an offence under section 7(1A)(b) of the ordinance and The defendant was fined $5,000 for failing to enrol an employee in MPF scheme as required by the ordinance.
Dynasty (Pro) Development Company Limited pleaded guilty to an offence under section 7(1) of the ordinance and was fined $3,000 for failing to enrol an employee in MPF scheme.
Extra Billion Investment Limited pleaded guilty to breaching section 43D(1)(b) of the ordinance by failing to comply with a lawful requirement made by the MPFA in the course of exercising or performing its functions. The defendant was fined $3,000. The defendant also pleaded guilty to an offence under section 7(1) of the ordinance and was fined $3,000 for for failing to enrol an employee in MPF scheme.
The MPFA today pursued three claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for about $46,000 on behalf of six employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
The three defendants, Szu Long Limited trading as Ho Yuen Restaurant, Chan Lan Ching trading as Princess Furniture Series and Sin Ho Kau trading as Hop Tak Lann, did not appear. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $30,838.50, $10,149.98 and $5,670, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
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 costs of $110, $790 and $160.
Ends/Monday, November 3, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:59
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