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The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (February 21) obtained an order in the District Court for payment of outstanding MPF contributions at about $190,000 against an employer.
The MPFA also pursued nine claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $220,000 on behalf of 24 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
The court issued a judgment against Cheng Wai Man formerly trading as Jetson Metal Works Company. The defendant was ordered to pay the MPFA $198,121.92, being mandatory contributions in arrears payable to 20 employees and surcharges.
At the tribunal's hearing today, the defendants, The Park Language Group Limited, Yeung Sui Transportation Company Limited and Hin Sum Manpower Company Limited, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $42,561.65, $27,783 and $12,161.91, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other six defendants, Creator Investments Limited trading as New Choice Seafood Restaurant, Pacific Broad Limited trading as Wa Se Da Japanese Restaurant, Lai Tsan Wai trading as Wah Kee Motor Service, Harbour Jet Shipping Limited, Vigorous Property Management Limited and Geosurveys Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $48,152.67, $38,598.01, $36,750, $14,041.33, $2,310 and $2,045.6, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The Adjudicator also ordered Lai Tsan Wai trading as Wah Kee Motor Service to pay the MPFA the sum of $5,000 being financial penalty imposed by the MPFA for failure to make MPF contributions for employees.
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 and the Tribunal respectively further awarded payments of $930 for the District Court case and $186, $210, $80, $190, $360, $230, $96, $210 and $86 as the costs in respect of the tribunal's claims.
The Park Language Group Limited, Yeung Sui Transportation Company Limited and Hin Sum Manpower Company Limited pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier to 14, 14 and 9 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and were fined $18,000, $25,500 and $26,000 respectively.
Ends/Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:50
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