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The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (January 9) obtained two orders in the District Court for payment of outstanding MPF contributions at about $560,000 against two employers. The MPFA also pursued two claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $25,000 on behalf of 22 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
The District Court today issued judgments against Blessearn Limited trading as Surya Restaurant and Wong Kwok Saint trading as Isabel (Canada) Hair and Beauty Professional Company. The defendants were ordered to pay the MPFA the sums of $426,449.08 and $140,064.98, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable to 18 and three employees of the defendants respectively. The District Court also ordered the defendants to each pay the MPFA $5,000 as financial penalty.
At the Tribunal's hearing today, the defendants, Bright Charter (Hong Kong) Limited formerly trading as Tung Lok Hin and Many Success Limited, did not appear. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $25,304.3 and $413.7, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
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 awarded payments of $930 and the Tribunal payments of $110 and $180 as costs in respect of the claims.
Bright Charter (Hong Kong) Limited trading as Tung Lok Hin earlier pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy to 20 counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time, and was fined $55,500.
Ends/Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:52
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