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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 (December 15) pursued eight claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $140,000 on behalf of 19 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At the Tribunal's hearing today, four defendants, namely Hui Hong Por trading as Yat Luen Engineering Co, Chi May Engineering Company Limited, Surplus Come Catering Consultancy Services Limited and Legacy Engineering (Maintenance) Company Limited, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $33,273.42, $20,000, $19,520 and $12,849.89, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other four defendants, namely Deschamps Catering Company Limited, Chunghao Limited, Sik Wai Sin Restaurant Limited and Brainson Limited, did not appear. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $18,062.97, $14,410.42, $14,336.76 and $7,860.3, 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 $170, $126, $170, $154, $119, $90, $174 and $106 as the costs in respect of the claims.
Brainson Limited pleaded guilty previously at Kwun Tong Magistracy to eight counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $21,000.
Ends/Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:45
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