XN000022-1972-06-22 — Page 16

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Thursday, June 22, 1972

CONTINUING RELIEF FOR RAINSTORM VICTIMS

About 6,000 victims of the thunderstorm whose homes or huts were

substantially damaged by floods are to receive immediately an ex gratia payment

of $50 each from the Community Relief Trust Fund.

Announcing this today, the Director of Social Welfare, the Fund Trustee,

said the payment would mean, in effect, that an average family of five members

would receive $250, with the cash outlay under this head totalling about $300,000.

The payment brings relief to a category of thunderstorm victims not

covered by yesterday's decision to allow ex gratia grants of $200 each from

the Fund for people whose homes had been destroyed by the disaster.

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About 800 people registered with the Social Welfare Department fall

into yesterday's category.

Urgent administrative measures have been taken, and payments can be

collected from noon tomorrow (Friday)at the following localities on both sides of the

harbour:

*

Tai Hang Tung Community Centre;

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Wong Tai Sin Community Centre;

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Kwun Tong Community Centre;

Eastern District Office, Social Welfare Department, Causeway Bay.

*

"These ex gratia payments, amounting to about $500,000," the Director

said, "take into account numerous contributions flowing into the Fund as a

result of public sympathy and generosity. The general wish is that the money go

immediately to relieve hardship.".

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/Assistance ...