WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1977
$1.5 MILLION COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES ******
THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARDS RECEIVED MORE THAN 600 APPLICATIONS DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1977 - A DECREASE OF 233 CASES OR 27 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
IN ITS FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT PUBLISHED TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR. ROBERT WEI, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS, SAID THAT THE DECREASE WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO A DECLINE IN INCIDENCES OF PERSONAL INJURIES RESULTED FROM VIOLENT CRIME ALONG WITH A GROWING AWARENESS ON CRIME PREVENTION.
WHILE THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS INDICATED A DOWNWARD TREND, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION DROPPED ONLY SLIGHTLY TO $1.5 MILLION AS COMPARED WITH $1.6 MILLION LAST YEAR. THE BIGGEST SINGLE PAYMENT OF $16,000 WAS MADE TO THE DEPENDANTS OF AN UNLICENSED HAWKER WHO DIED IN A FIGHT OVER A MONEY DISPUTE.
THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR COVERED 17.2 PER CENT OF THE 3,619 CASES OF REPORTED CRIMES OF VIOLENCE INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURIES.
AMONG THE 623 APPLICATIONS, 65 PER CENT OF THE CASES INVOLVED ASSAULT AND WOUNDING, WHILE ROBBERY AND BURGLARY TOOK UP 27 PER CENT.
ALTHOUGH NO APPLICATION FOR COMPENSATION WAS RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR FOR INJURIES CAUSED BY LAW ENFORCING OFFICERS, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD CONVENED TWICE TO SETTLE TWO CASES CARRIED OVER FROM THE PRECEDING YEAR, -
THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME, WHICH GRANTS COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS SUFFERING FROM PERSONAL INJURIES IN CRIMES OF VIOLENCE OR INJURIES CAUSED BY WEAPONS USED BY PUBLIC OFFICERS IN THE EXECUTION OF THE IR DUTIES, HAS BEEN GENERALLY RECOGNISED AS AN EFFICIENT WAY OF PROVIDING CASH" ASSISTANCE SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1973.
THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION IS DETERMINED BY A PENAL
OF BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, AND IS PAID OUT FROM PUBLIC FUNDS THROUGH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
IN CASES WHERE THE VICTIM WAS KILLED OR SUFFERED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF CRIME PREVENTION OR MAKING SUCH ATTEMPTS, THE BOARDS ARE EMPOWERED TO INCREASE COMPENSATION UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 100 PER CENT.
WHEN ASSESSING