Ocean Empire Fined $66,000 for Wage Violations Under Employment Ordinance

Company fined $66,000 for contravening Employment Ordinance

Ocean Empire International Limited was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company pleaded guilty earlier at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts and was fined $66,000 today (January 19).

Ocean Empire Food Shop, the food brand of Ocean Empire International Limited, Photo by Bastille Post

The company wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirements of the EO, failing to pay 10 employees' wages within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of employment contracts, totalling about $563,000.

"The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers that they have to pay wages to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO," a spokesman for the LD said.

"The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.

The Eastern Magistrates' Courts, the Eastern Law Courts Building

Fatal traffic accident in Sha Tin

Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Sha Tin this afternoon (January 20) in which a man died.

At about 5.39pm, a private car driven by a 48-year-old man was travelling along On Sum Street towards Kowloon. When approaching the junction of Tai Chung Kiu Road, it reportedly collided with a private car driven by a 47-year-old man, that was stopped at a traffic light ahead.

The 48-year-old man was trapped inside the vehicle and was rescued by firemen. Sustaining no superficial injury, he was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 6.36pm.

Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories South is under way.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 1445.

Source: AI-found images