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The following is issued on behalf of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:
Two officers and an employer were fined $15,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (October 6), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485).
Irene Leung Lap Man and Cindy Wong Sau Chun, officers of Healing Hands Yoga Massage & Spa Limited, were charged under section 7AA(7) and section 44 of the ordinance. They each pleaded guilty to five counts of failing to make Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions for an employee who was not a member of registered scheme within the prescribed time for the contribution period between November 2008 and March 2009, but repaid it afterwards. The defendants were fined $1,000 for each summons, totalling $5,000 each.
Healing Hands Yoga Massage & Spa Limited was also charged under section 7AA(7) of the Ordinance. The defendant pleaded guilty to five counts of failing to make MPF contributions for an employee who was not a member of registered scheme within the prescribed time for the contribution periods between November 2008 and March 2009, but repaid it afterwards. The defendant was fined $1,000 for each summons, totalling $5,000.
The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today also obtained an order in the District Court against an employer for payment of outstanding MPF contributions at about $82,000.
The court today issued judgment against Headson Engineering Contractor Limited which was ordered to pay the MPFA the sum of $82,388.83, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable to 32 employees.
The MPFA also pursued six claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for about $76,000 on behalf of 15 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
Well Served Limited trading as Well Served and Po Yau Kam, did not dispute the amount claimed. The Adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA $7,822.50, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other five defendants, Tsui Hiu Tung trading as Wui Kong Engineering Co, Gallonton Trading Limited trading as At Fourteen, Hill Dragon Limited trading as Rikyuan, Lee Yuen Kwan formerly trading as Timming (China-HK) Logistic Trading Co and Wong Kit Leung (translation), Grand Prestige Holdings Limited formerly trading as Grand Banquet Hall, did not appear. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $36,913, $24,355.28, $3,927, $3,540.95 and $111.90, 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 ordered the defendants to each pay costs of $930. The tribunal ordered the respective defendants to pay $155, $209, $159, $135, $179 and $134 as the cost in respect of the claims.
Ends/Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:35
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