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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 11) pursued six claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $170,000 on behalf of 17 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
Two defendants, Gold Sea Engineering Limited and Vigorous Property Management Limited, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $29,914.88 and $1,784.48, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other four defendants, Yu Sui Keung formerly trading as Mellow Restaurant, Sino Best Limited, Leung Ping Kan trading as Luen Fung Transportation Co and Why Not Transportation Limited, did not appear. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA $40,506.81, $38,529.91, $32,744.80 and $27,772.50, 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 costs of $110, $70, $210, $322, $220 and $126.
Gold Sea Engineering Limited previously pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy to eight counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $24,000.
Ends/Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:11
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