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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1988
TAVAS EXTENSION TO TRAINS RULED OUT
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THE GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED SEVERAL YEARS AGO NOT TO EXTEND THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME (TAVAS) TO COVER RAILWAY ACCIDENTS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CHIL HIN-KWONG, MR CHAMBERS SAID HE DID NOT SEE ANY REASON TO CHANGE THIS VIEW AT PRESENT.
HE EXPLAINED THAT PERSONS WHO WERE INJURED ON TRAINS OR WITHIN THE PRECINCTS OF RAILWAY STATIONS WERE NOT COVERED AT PRESENT BY ANY SCHEME SIMILAR TO THE TAVA SCHEME,
MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT THAT THE QUESTION OF EXTENDING TAVAS TO COVER VICTIMS OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS OR SETTING UP A SEPARATE FUND WAS CONSIDERED IN SOME DETAIL SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
THERE WAS HOWEVER A BASIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACCIDENTS ON THE ROADS AND ON THE RAILWAYS, HE SAID.
"WHEREAS EVERBODY HAS THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO PUBLIC ROADS, PEOPLE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS ON THE RAILWAYS ARE EITHER FARE-PAYING PASSENGERS, WHO ARE IN A CONTRACTUAL POSITION WHEREBY THE CARRIER [S REQUIRED TO TAKE ALL REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY, OR ARE TRESPASSERS ON RAILWAY PROPERTY, MR CHAMBERS NOTED.
HE ADDED THAT ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY THE TAVA SCHEMP WAS INTRODUCED WAS THE FREQUENT DIFFICULTY IN IDENTIFYING DRIVERS INVOLVED IN ROAD ACCIDENTS, WHILST THE PROBLEM DID NOT ARISE IN THE CASE OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.
IF ACCIDENTS DO OCCUR AND THE VICTIMS ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN COMPENSATION QUICKLY, ASSISTANCE CAN USUALLY BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM OR THROUGH CHARITABLE FUNDS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE," MR CHAMBERS SAID.
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