HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-23rd May 1973
809
the support and assistance of the Civil Service, provide us with real future benefits far in excess of the cost of the exercise.
Compensation for victims of crimes of violence
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Acting) (Mr HoblEY):—Sir, in its fight against crime, the Government is seeking increased help from members of the community and the vital importance of public participation in various ways is being emphasized. It is very opportune therefore that at this time I am able to announce the introduction with immediate effect of a scheme for the payment of compensation to persons, or to the dependants of persons, who after today are the victims of crimes of violence or are killed or injured in helping to prevent crime or to arrest an offender. The scheme also provides for the payment of compensation where a person is killed or injured by a police officer or other law enforcement officer who is using a weapon in the execution of his duty.
There has for many years been a limited provision for the payment of compensation where a person is killed or injured in the execution of a moral or legal duty to assist in the prevention of crime. The help which law enforcement officers have received from the public in the past is reflected in the fact that this Council has made several awards of compensation under that provision in recent years.
The Government recognizes that the existing provision is too limited since it does not authorize the payment of compensation either to the victim of a violent crime or where a person is killed or injured by a law enforcement officer in the execution of his duty. They or their dependants have only their common law right of action for damages-which obviously cannot be recovered from a criminal with- out means.
The scheme being introduced is in two parts, \which will be administered by separate Boards.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board will be concerned with claims for compensation from the victim of a crime of violence or his dependants or from persons, or their dependants, who suffer injury or death in helping to prevent crime or to arrest an offender. The com- pensation payable in these cases will be the same as the amount payable in respect of injury or death from the Community Relief Trust Fund. The Board may, however, increase the award of compensation by up to double that amount if it considers it right to do so where the victim was injured while preventing or helping to prevent crime or helping to arrest an offender.