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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1983
THE REPORT SAYS THAT THE MOST TRAGIC CASE EVER DEALT WITH BY THE BOARDS WAS THE UN CHAU ESTATE INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED IN JUNE 1982 AND WHICH LED TO 46 CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION. FORTY-SIX CLAIMS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY APPROVED.
UNDER THE EXISTING RULES OF THE SCHEME, NO COMPENSATION COULD BE AWARDED TO A VICTIM WHO WAS INJURED BY THE OFFENDER WHO WAS LIVING WITH HIM AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AS MEMBERS OF THE SAME FAMILY.
AFTER A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION BY A MAN WHOSE WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE KILLED BY HIS SON IN THE UN CHAU ESTATE INCIDENT WAS REJECTED, THE BOARDS MADE A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE RULES.
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REVISED RULES, WHICH WERE APPROVED IN DECEMBER 1982 EMPOWER THE BOARDS TO EXTEND COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE ON THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
* THE OFFENDER HAS BEEN PROSECUTED IN CONNECTION
WITH THE OFFENCE EXCEPT WHERE THE BOARD CONSIDERS THAT THERE ARE PRACTICAL, TECHNICAL OR OTHER GROUNDS FOR NOT PROSECUTING THE OFFENDER:
*
THE BOARD IS SATISFIED THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE APPLICANT OR THE MINOR OR OTHER PERSON ON WHOSE BEHALF THE APPLICATION IS MADE, AS THE CASE MAY BE, TO MAKE AN AWARD.
DURING THE YEAR, THE CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD ALSO DEALT WITH CLAIMS ARISING FROM A CASE IN WHICH FOUR WOMEN WERE STRANGLED AND LATER DISMEMBERED BY A TAXI DRIVER BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND JULY IN 1982.
THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS WERE INVITED TO FILE CLAIMS UNDER THE SCHEME. THE FOARD PROMPTLY APPROVED COMPENSATION TOTALLING MORE THAN $20 000 FOR EACH FAMILY.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS, MR ROBERT WEI, QC, JP RETIRED IN JUNE THIS YEAR AND WAS SUCCEEDED BY MR MARTIN LEE, QC, JF.
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