SOCIAL WELFARE
their daily life but are not receiving such care in a government or subvented institution. The current monthly rate for the disability allowance is $685 and, for the higher disability allowance, $1,370.
Old-age allowance is non-means-tested for those aged 70 and above, and they are entitled to a current rate of $393 per month. For those below the age of 70, monthly payments are at a lower rate of $343, subject to a declaration that income and assets do not exceed the prescribed levels. The minimum qualifying age for an old-age allowance was lowered to 66 on April 1. This will be further lowered to 65 in 1991.
The number of people receiving disability and old-age allowances at the end of the year was 444 400, compared with 401 300 at the end of 1989. Expenditure on special needs allowances in the 1989-90 financial year was $1,772 million, representing an increase of 29 per cent over the previous year.
The Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme provides cash assistance to people who are injured in crimes of violence or in helping to prevent crime in Hong Kong. It also extends compensation to those injured by law enforcement officers using weapons in the execution of their duties. Payments are made to their surviving dependent family members in the case of persons killed in any one of these circumstances.
This scheme, which is non-means-tested and non-contributory, is administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Board. Both boards consist of the same chairman and members who are appointed by the Governor, from outside the civil service. During the year, total payments amounted to $6.6 million, compared with $5.7 million in the previous year. The payment rates are reviewed regularly to keep pace with inflation.
The Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme is a no-fault, non-means-tested scheme. It provides cash payments to victims of traffic accidents or, in the case of death, their dependants. For a person to be eligible, the traffic accident must be one as defined under the Traffic Accident Victims (Assistance Fund) Ordinance (Cap 229) and must have been reported to the police. The application must be lodged within six months of the accident. In the case of injury not causing death, the victim must have required no less than three days' sick leave supported by a medical certificate. Payments are not made for damage to property. The scheme does not affect the applicant's right to claim legal damages or compensation from other sources in respect of the same accident. In the case of a successful claim, the applicant is required to refund either the payment he has received from the scheme or the amount of damages or compensation received, whichever is the less.
During the year, 6030 applications were received and 5 550 were approved for assistance, with payments of $52 million compared with $48 million in 1989.
The rates of assistance are revised regularly to take account of the rise in the cost of living.
Emergency relief is provided to victims of natural or other disasters in the form of material aid, such as hot meals, eating utensils and other essential articles. Grants from the Emergency Relief Fund are also paid to disaster victims or their dependants to relieve hardship arising from personal injury or death. The payment rates under this fund are also revised regularly.
During the year, emergency relief was given to 2 410 registered victims on 90 occasions. The Social Welfare Department also assisted in providing hot meals to refugees and boat people from Vietnam.
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