************************************************************
Four employers and two company directors were fined $131,500 at the Kwun Tong Magistrate's Courts today (April 4), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485).
For the case of Dickson Construction Company Limited (BR no.: 06388389), which was charged with offences under section 7A(8) of the Ordinance, the defendant pleaded guilty to seven counts of failing to make MPF contributions for the period September to December 2005 within the prescribed time. The defendant was fined $8,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the other six summonses, totalling $20,000.
For the case of Genesis Engineering Transportation Company Limited (BR no.: 19896242), which was charged with offences under section 7A(8) of the Ordinance, the defendant pleaded guilty to 13 counts of failing to make MPF contributions within the prescribed time for the period July 2004 to March 2005. The defendant was fined $8,000 for the first summons and $2,500 each for the other 12 summonses, totalling $38,000.
For the case of Gogobus Management Limited (BR no.: 30642018), which was charged with offences under section 7A(8) of the Ordinance, the defendant pleaded guilty to 10 counts of failing to make MPF contributions within the prescribed time for the period October 2003 to August 2004. The defendant was fined $8,000 for the first summons and $3,500 each for the other nine summonses, totalling $39,500.
For the case of But Kam Ming trading as Hing Tung Food Shop (BR no.: 30441755), which was charged with offences under section 7A(8) of the Ordinance, the defendant pleaded guilty to six counts of failing to make MPF contributions within the prescribed time for the period June to August 2004. The defendant was fined $6,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the other five summonses, totalling $16,000.
Two other defendants, Chan Chuen Wai and Fu Yuk Fan, directors of Sunrise Interior Design & Decoration Limited (BR no.: 2020795324) responsible for the company's administration, were charged with offences under section 7A(8) and section 44 of the Ordinance. The defendants pleaded guilty to two counts respectively of failing to make MPF contributions for their employees within the prescribed time for the contribution period April to May 2004. The defendants were fined $6,000 for the first summons and $3,000 for the other summons respectively, totalling $18,000.
Meanwhile, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today pursued five claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $128,000 on behalf of 10 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At today's hearing, the three defendants, Genesis Engineering Transportation Company Limited, Cheung Tim Cheung trading as Tsui Fu Hin Restaurant and Saiton Engineering Limited, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $46,645.86, $21,468.61 and $3,955, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other two defendants, Lau Yiu Lam and Lee Chow Lan trading as Eversafe Engineering Company and Winson Knitting Industrial Company Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $48,670.66 and $7,300.29, being mandatory contribution in arrears and surcharge payable.
The amounts awarded will be reimbursed to the employees' MPF accounts as soon as they are received by the MPFA. The court further awarded payments of $170, $180, $120, $180 and $240 as costs in respect of the claims.
Ends/Tuesday, April 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:50
NNNN
