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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 (April 22) obtained two orders in the District Court for payment of outstanding MPF contributions at about $490,000 against two employers. Meanwhile, the MPFA pursued two claims in the Small Claims Tribunal for some $70,000 on behalf of 22 employees, who were owed MPF contributions by their employers.
The District Court today issued judgments against two employers, namely, Xun Da U.V. Coating Co. Limited and Wing Fat Restaurant Holdings Limited trading as Po Tat Restaurant. The defendants were ordered to pay the MPFA the sums of $440,021.31 and $50,999.73, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable to six and 25 employees of the defendants respectively.
Meanwhile, at the tribunal's hearing today, the defendant, Mastery International Associates Limited, did not dispute the amount claimed. The adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA the sum of $38,025.02, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The other defendant, Wah Tai Farm Company Limited, did not appear at today's hearing. In its absence, the adjudicator ordered it to pay the MPFA the sum of $32,274.26, being mandatory contributions in arrears and surcharges payable.
The amounts awarded at both 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 ordered the defendants to pay costs of $930 each. The tribunal ordered the respective defendants to pay $226 and $126 as the costs in respect of the claims.
Wah Tai Farm Company Limited pleaded guilty previously at Kwun Tong Magistracy to four counts of failing to make MPF contributions on time and was fined $10,500.
Ends/Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:31
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