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Five employers were fined $114,500 at the Kwun Tong Magistrate's Court today (June 5), after being convicted of offences under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485).
In the case of The Firm Limited (BR no.: 17390121), which was charged with two offences under section 7A(8) of the ordinance, the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to make MPF contributions within the prescribed time for the contribution period, August to September 2005. The defendant was fined $10,000 for the first summons and $4,000 for the other summons, totalling $14,000.
In the case of Worldee Engineering Company Limited (BR no.: 32191899), which was charged with an offence under section 7A(8) of the ordinance, the defendant pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to make MPF contributions within the prescribed time for the contribution period, February to April 2005. The defendant was fined $5,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the remaining summonses, totalling $9,000.
In the case of Poon Wai Kee Engineering Co. Ltd. (BR no.: 16755469), which was charged with an offence under section 7A(8) of the ordinance, the defendant pleaded guilty to 16 counts of failing to make MPF contributions within the prescribed time for the contribution period, October 2003 to January 2005. The defendant was fined $13,000 for the first summons and $3,500 each for the remaining summonses, totalling $65,500.
In the case of Euro-Asia Surveyors Limited (BR no.: 21743344), which was charged with an offence under section 7A(8) of the ordinance, the defendant pleaded guilty to seven counts of failing to make MPF contributions within the prescribed time for the contribution period in July 2004 to January 2005. The defendant was fined $5,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the remaining summonses, totalling $17,000.
In the case of Lau Kai Chung trading as Andefit International (BR no.:34107036), which was charged with an offence under section 7A(8) of the ordinance, the defendant pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to make MPF contributions within the prescribed time for the contribution period, August 2004 to October 2004. The defendant was fined $5,000 for the first summons and $2,000 each for the remaining summonses, totalling $9,000.
Meanwhile, upon its legal representative's application, the Magistrate adjourned the summonses of default contributions against Sing Pao Newspaper Management Limited to August 1, 2006 for plea-taking.
The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) also today pursued three claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $83,000 on behalf of five employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At today's hearing, the defendant, Ng Nga Wo trading as Yuen Long Agricultural Mutual Assistance Society Clinic, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA the sums of $37,482.86, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other two defendants, Chan Wing Kin trading as Sun Wing Lee Transportation Company and Watery Ocean Asian Food Restaurant Company Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $45,721.66 and $182.86, being mandatory contribution 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 court further awarded payments of $230, $170 and $310 as costs in respect of the claims.
Ends/Monday, June 5, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:23
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