Seven employers ordered to pay MPF arrears
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The following is issued on behalf of The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority:

     The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) today (12 December) pursued seven claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $130,000 on behalf of 11 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.

     At the tribunal's hearing today, the defendant, Fung King Tai trading as Tai Kee Printing Company, did not dispute the amount claimed. The adjudicator ordered him to pay the MPFA the sum of $19,831.94, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.

     The other six defendants, including Sino Best Limited, Sharp Idea Group Limited trading as Mrs Chan Singapore Malaysia Home Made Food, Leung Po Sang trading as Po Sang Company, Kwong Lung Food I/E Company Limited, Armed Forces Security (H.K.) Limited and Harvard Engineering Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In their absence, the adjudicator ordered them to pay the MPFA the sums of  $49,209.6, $39,823.75, $11,616.5, $7,133.01, $6,889.42 and $2,365.15, 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 tribunal further ordered the respective defendants to pay $180, $170, $170, $210, $96, $80 and $60 as the costs in respect of the claims.

     Armed Forces Security (H.K.) Limited and Harvard Engineering Limited pleaded guilty previously at Kwun Tong Magistracy to eight counts and one count of failing to make MPF contributions on time and were fined $14,400 and $7,000 respectively.

Ends/Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:21

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