SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 1980
MORE PEOPLE SEEK HELP FROM INJURY COMPENSATION SCHEME
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MORE PEOPLE ARE TURNING FOR HELP TO THE COMPENSATION SCHEME WHICH PROVIDES CASH ASSISTANCE TO THOSE INJURED OR DEPENDANTS OF THOSE KILLED IN VIOLENT CRIME OR ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR JUST ENDED, A TOTAL OF 711 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED UNDER THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME, AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 160 COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING YEAR..
ABOUT $1.1 MILLION WERE PAID OUT DURING THE YEAR BRINGING TO $8.17 MILLION, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION GIVEN OUT SINCE THE SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN 1973. THE AMOUNT PAID TO CRIME VICTIMS OR THEIR FAMILIES ALSO INCREASED BY 10 PER CENT AGAINST $920 000 IN 1978/79.
MR HERBERT YIM, SENIOR SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICER OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, ATTRIBUTED THE INCREASE MAINLY TO GOOD CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT 68 PER CENT OF THE APPLICATIONS WERE REFERRED BY OTHER OFFICES, SUCH AS THE POLICE, THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE MEDICAL AND
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
HIS STAFF ALSO TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO LOCATE CRIME VICTIMS THROUGH NEWSPAPER REPORTS IF THESE CONTAINED ADDRESSES.
HOWEVER, HE ADDED, THE NUMBER OF DIRECT APPLICATIONS ALSO INCREASED BY ALMOST 30 PER CENT, FROM 175 CLAIMS IN 1978-79 TO 227 LAST YEAR.
MR YIM SAID THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED COVERED 11 PER CENT OF THE 6 285 REPORTED CASES OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURIES. OF THESE, ROBBERY AND BURGLARY CASES MADE UP 39.9 PER CENT WHILE ASSAULT AND WOUNDING REPRESENTED 54.3 PER CENT.
THE BIGGEST SINGLE PAYMENT OF NEARLY $20 000 WAS MADE TO THE DEPENDANTS OF A MAN KILLED IN A ROBBERY NEAR HIS FACTORY IN SHAM SHUI PO.
UNDER THE SCHEME, APPLICANTS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY MEANS TEST BUT COMPENSATION' IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO AN INJURED PERSON WHOSE INJURY HAS CAUSED AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS LOSS OF EARNINGS OR WORKING CAPACITY.
THE COMPENSATION SCHEME IS ADMINISTERED BY TWO BOARDS, THE CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD, WITH MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
SECRETARIAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE
DEPARTMENT.
STAFF OF THE SECRETARIAT, APART FROM PROCESSING CLAIMS, ALSO LOOK INTO OTHER NEEDS OF THE VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS AND REFER THEM TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR WELFARE AGENCIES IF THEY REQUIRE HELP.
LAST YEAR, ASSISTANCE WAS GIVEN IN SOME 80 SUCH CASES.
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