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WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1994
IT WAS ORIGINALLY SET AT ONE-THIRD OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE SCHEME AS STATISTICS PROVIDED BY THE POLICE SHOWED THAT 30 TO 35 PER CENT OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS FROM 1973 TO 1977 HAD BEEN CAUSED PEDESTRIAN NEGLIGENCE.
THIS PERCENTAGE DROPPED TO JUST OVER 20 PER CENT BY 1990, ON THAT BASIS, THE LEVEL OF CONTRIBUTION FROM GENERAL REVENUE REDUCED TO ONE-FIFTH OF THE COST OF THE SCHEME IN OCTOBER 1992.
BY
AND WAS
MRS LAU RECALLED THAT ON JANUARY 12 THIS YEAR, THE COUNCIL APPROVED AN INCREASE IN THE LEVIES ON VEHICLE
AND DRIVING LICENCES, WHICH WAS LOWER THAN WHAT WAS PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
FOLLOWING THIS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONDUCTED AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THE SCHEME, INCLUDING WAYS TO REDUCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, TO IMPROVE THE REFUND RATE AND TO FORMULATE BASIS FOR FUTURE ADJUSTMENT OF LEVIES.
SAVINGS
"WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IN OUR REVIEW MEASURES TO ACHIEVE OF ABOUT $1 MILLION PER ANNUM, OR 12 PER CENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF COST INCURRED FOR THE SCHEME, MRS LAU SAID.
+
"THE MEASURES INVOLVE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR
THE TAVA SCHEME AND A REDUCTION IN STAFFING IN THE DEPARTMENT'S TAVA SECTION, SHE ADDED.
OF
TI
RECOVERY
AS A SAFEGUARD TO THE REFUND SYSTEM AND TO FACILITATE PAYMENTS, SHE SAID THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD STANDING ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT, THE JUDICIARY, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, SOLICITORS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, EMPLOYERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON CLAIMS PAID TO TAVA BENEFICIARIES AND TO EFFECT DIRECT REPAYMENT.
**WE WILL KEEP THE TAVA SCHEME UNDER REVIEW AND CONTINUE ΤΟ EXPLORE POSSIBLE WAYS TO IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE FUND," MRS LAU SAID.
SHE ADDED THAT ΤΟ MINIMISE OPERATIONAL DIFFICULTIES, THE REVISED RATES WOULD NOT APPLY TO ADVANCE LICENCE RENEWALS MADE BEFORE THE RESPECTIVE EFFECTIVE DATES.
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