WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1979
12
+THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF A GANG IS A SOURCE OF FEAR. NUMBERS GIVE STRENGTH. IT IS NUMBERS THAT CAUSE FEAR, + MR, HOBLEY SAID.
+SO, ALTHOUGH THE OLD-STYLE TRIAD SOCIETIES HAVE FOR SOME TIME NOW CEASED TO POSE ANY THREAT, THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY A GANG PROBLEM WHICH IS NO LESS SERIOUS, HE ADDED.
MR. HOBLEY SAID THE ORDINARY LAW WAS GENERALLY ADEQUATE TO ENABLE THE POLICE FORCE TO COPE WITH GANGS WHERE THEY ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN CRIME OR PROTECTION RACKETS.
BUT THEY HAVE FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO COPE ADEQUATELY WITH GROUPS OF THUGS OR BULLIES SKULKING AROUND IN THE STREET OR PUBLIC PARTS OF BUILDINGS, BEHAVING IN AN OFFENSIVE OR MENACING WAY WITHOUT ACTUAL AGGRESSION.
+THIS IS A VERY REAL DAY-TO-DAY PROBLEM FOR SOME SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND IT IS NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT THE INABILITY OF THE POLICE FORCE TO ACT EFFECTIVELY HAS SOMETIMES CREATED AN APPEARANCE OF IMPOTENCE ON THE PART OF THE AUTHORITIES, WHICH CAN ONLY WORK TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE GANGS.+
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME
STARTS NEXT MONTH *****
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS GEARED FOR IMPLEMENTING NEXT MONTH A NO FAULT+ ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO PROVIDE QUICK CASH RELIEF FOR PEOPLE INJURED OR KILLED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME, COSTING AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF $45 MILLION IN 1979-80, IS DESIGNED AS A WELFARE MEASURE TO TIDE A VICTIM OR HIS DEPENDANTS OVER THEIR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP RESULTING FROM REDUCED OR LOST EARNINGS.
ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE SCHEME AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ZONTA CLUB OF HONG KONG, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AN ESTIMATED 8,000 INJURED PEOPLE MAY APPLY THIS YEAR.
MR. LEE SAID THE SCHEME PROVIDES FOR A SIMPLE PROCEDURE OF GIVING EARLY CASH ASSISTANCE TO ALL TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS. OR THE IR DEPENDANTS IN CASES OF DEATH, REGARDLESS OF WHO WAS AT FAULT IN CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.
HE SAID THE SCHEME IS NON-MEANS TESTED, TO BE FINANCED BY THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE FUND AND ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT AS ONE OF ITS SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES.
THE SCHEME, HE SAID, WILL APPLY TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS WHICH HAPPEN ON OR AFTER MAY 1 THIS YEAR AND WHICH HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE. IN ADDITION, APPLICATIONS MUST BE MADE WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE ACCIDENT, AND THE INJURIES SUSTAINED HAVE CAUSED THE LOSS OF AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS' EARNING CAPACITY.
/APPLICATIONS