**********************************************
The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (May 3) pursued six claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $150,000 on behalf of 11 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
At today's hearing, the defendants, Ming Wai Children's Wear Limited and Hong Kong City Service Centre Limited, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $38,010 and $17,718.48 respectively, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other four defendants, including Lam Yuk Kui trading as Lam Kui Driving School, Bonne Bonne Limited trading as C C Boy Contemporary Chiuchow Bistro, Garlic Factory Kamo operated by Yn Management Company Limited, and Kwok Kwai Yung and Lee Lai Sheung trading as E-Fat Textile Co, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $35,766.11, $31,273.16, $25,297.64 and $6,388.44, 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 court further awarded payments of $370, $130, $368, $120, $260 and $110 as the costs in respect of the claims.
Hong Kong City Service Centre Limited pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier to nine counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $17,000.
Ends/Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:07
NNNN
