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Asia Television Limited (ATV) (represented by the Provisional Liquidators) and its director concerned were prosecuted by the Labour Department for committing wage offences under the Employment Ordinance (EO). ATV was convicted for all the 57 summonses laid against it and was fined a total of $764,000 at Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts today (June 28). The fines are to be paid within 45 days after the winding-up proceeding against ATV has been completed or the winding-up petition has been revoked, whichever is the earlier.
The Labour Department welcomes the judgment. It helps disseminate a strong message to all employers that they are obliged to pay wages to their employees within the statutory period specified by the EO.
Employers are reminded that they will be criminally liable for non-compliance of effecting payment of wages as required by the EO. The Labour Department will continue to spare no effort in combating wage offences and will contemplate prosecutions should there be sufficient evidence and prosecution witnesses to safeguard the statutory rights of employees.
Regarding the 44 summonses laid against the director of ATV for his consent, connivance or neglect in the wage offences committed by ATV, he pleaded not guilty to all the summonses. These summonses will be handled at the Pre-trial Review scheduled for September 7 at Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts.
Ends/Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:46
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