Enforcement

Enforcement Statistics

The following are some statistics on the enforcement actions taken and handling of complaints involving MPF trustees by MPFA for the period from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Complaints involving MPF trustees

  • Total number of complaint cases involving
    MPF trustees: 513

*Since a complaint may cover more than one subject matter, the total number of subject matters of complaints may exceed the total number of complaints.

 

Enforcement actions involving MPF trustees

The MPFA imposed financial penalties on MPF trustees relating to their failure to comply with scheme administration duties. Common non-compliances include (i) late processing of MPF benefits transfer and (ii) late provision of notices to scheme members etc.

 

  • Financial penalty notices issued: 11
  • MPF trustees penalized: 5
  • Total amount of penalties: $1,880,000

Enforcement actions involving MPF intermediaries

Misconduct
Action taken
Transferring a scheme member’s MPF benefits without authorization, misusing the member's personal information and forging the member's signature on MPF forms
Disciplinary action of suspending the registration of a Subsidiary Intermediary for 20 months
Failing to provide scheme members with necessary information of MPF schemes, offering incentives for encouraging scheme members to transfer MPF benefits, asking clients to sign on incomplete forms, failing to comply with Principal Intermediary’s (PI) procedures of conduct and PI's internal control issues etc.
Advisory letters to nine Subsidiary Intermediaries and two Principal Intermediaries to remind compliance with the relevant conduct requirements

Enforcement actions involving employers and scheme members

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Criminal Actions:
  • 280 summonses were applied against non-compliant employers and directors/managers of limited companies
  • 121 summonses were applied against scheme members
Civil Actions:
  • 900 claims were filed to civil courts to pursue default contributions*
  • 124 garnishee orders were granted to seize moneys from defaulting employers’ bank accounts
  • 78 bailiff actions were imposed to seize assets from defaulting employers
  • 3 court orders were granted by court to compel convicted employers to rectify the non-compliance
  • 46 financial penalty notices were issued to repeat defaulters
Total amount of default contribution recovered:
  • $140 million of default contributions* were recovered on behalf of employees

*Default contributions include surcharge calculated at 5% of the amount of MPF contributions in arrears imposed on employers who failed to make MPF contributions for their employees within the prescribed period.