Five employers ordered to pay MPF
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    The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (May 22) pursued five claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $140,000 on behalf of seven employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.

     At today's hearing, the three defendants, including Bright Star Machinery Engineering Limited, Kwok Chi Kwong trading as Chung Kee Transportation Co. and Yeung Kam Chuen trading as Tak Kee Food Stall, did not dispute the amounts claimed. The Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $49,328.41, $42,645.4 and $4,139.59 respectively, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.

     The other two defendants, True Light Civil Contractors Limited and Smart-Tone Technology Logistic Service Company Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the Adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of $40,829.32 and $6,058.46 respectively, 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 $300, $170, $150, $160 and $220 as the costs in respect of the claims.

     Bright Star Machinery Engineering Limited pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts earlier to eight counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $15,500.

Ends/Monday, May 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:14

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