The responsible officer of Hong Kong Blockchain Development Company Limited was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violating the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The responsible officer pleaded guilty at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (October 9) and was fined $51,000. The responsible officer was also ordered to pay an outstanding sum of about $2,147,000 to the employees concerned.

     The company wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirements of the EO, failing to pay three employees' wages and payment in lieu of notice within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employment contracts, totalling about $1,927,000. The company also failed to pay the awarded sum of about $2,147,000 to the three employees within 14 days after the date set by the Labour Tribunal (LT). The responsible officer was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.

     "The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages, termination payments and sums awarded by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO," a spokesman for the LD said.

     "The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.

Ends/Friday, October 9, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:50

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