WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1983
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TAVA SCHEME SATISFACTORY
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APPLICATIONS FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE (TAVA) HAVE SHOWN A STEADY INCREASE EACH YEAR SINCE THE SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN MAY 1979, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE EXPECTED THE TREND TO CONTINUE WITH THE RELAXATION OF THE SEVEN-DAY SICK LEAVE RULE AND SUSTAINED PUBLICITY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR HO KAM-FAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIED WITH THE OPERATION OF THE SCHEME.
DR HO HAD SAID THAT APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE WERE RECEIVED FROM ONLY 58 PER CENT OF THE VICTIMS WHO SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS DURING 1981/82.
MR CHAMBERS EXPLAINED THAT ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE APPARENTLY LOW PERCENTAGE OF VICTIMS WHO SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND WHO SUBSEQUENTLY APPLIED FOR HELP, WAS THE DEFINITION +SERIOUS INJURIES, WHICH INCLUDED ALL THOSE DETAINED IN HOSPITAL FOR 12 HOURS OR MORE.
+TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR HELP FROM THE SCHEME, HE SAID, +AN ACCIDENT VICTIM MUST HAVE LOST HIS EARNING CAPACITY FOR AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS IF THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED BEFORE JANUARY 6, 1982 OR THREE DAYS IF IT HAPPENED AFTER THAT DATE.+
A STUDY OF TAVA SCHEME CASES IN 1980/81 INDICATED THAT 46.7 PER CENT OF THE VICTIMS WHO WERE CLASSIFIED AS HAVING RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, BUT WHO DID NOT APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE SCHEME WERE IN FACT NOT ELIGIBLE UNDER THE SEVEN-DAY RULE IN FORCE AT THAT TIME.
+ IF WE ASSUME THAT A SIMILAR SITUATION OBTAINED IN 1981/82 AND ADJUST THE 58 PER CENT QUOTED BY DR HO SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE INELIGIBLE CASES WE ARRIVE AT A TAKE-UP RATE OF 72 PER CENT WHICH IS A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT, HE ADDED.
HEALTH WARNING ABOUT CIGARETTES
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THE GOVERNMENT MAY CONSIDER REQUIRING VERBAL HEALTH WARNINGS IN CIGARETTE ADVERTISEMENTS ON TELEVISION AND CINEMA SCREENS, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DENIS BRAY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER WONG, MR BRAY SAID THIS REQUIREMENT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED WHEN TELEVISION ADVERTISING ON SMOKING IS REVIEWED IN ABOUT TWO YEARS.
BUT HE ADDED, I SHOULD SAY THAT THERE APPEAR TO BE CONSIDERABLE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN GETTING A VERBAL WARNING INCLUDED WITHIN THE TIME SPAN OF THESE VERY SHORT ADVERTISEMENTS.+
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