XN000022-1974-05-10 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1974

AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME CAN HELP A FAMILY IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS, MR. CLARK SAID THAT THE SCALE RATE FOR A FIVE-MEMBER FAMILY WOULD BE, AT THE NEW LEVELS, $600 A MONTH ON TOP OF WHICH WOULD BE ADDED RENT ALLOWANCES AND THE COST OF ANY SCHOOL FEES, TRAVELLING EXPENSES. MOREOVER, ANY SPECIAL EXPENSES, SUCH AS DIETARY NEEDS WOULD ALSO BE COVERED. IF ONE MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WAS OVER 75 OR WAS SEVERELY MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY INCAPACITATED, ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCES UNDER THE DIA SCHEME WOULD BE ADDED.

AT THE END OF MARCH THIS YEAR, THERE WAS A CASELOAD OF 27,407 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES AND 42,450 DIA CASES.

THE INCREASE IS EXPECTED TO COST AN ADDITIONAL $29.6 MILLION.

WITH THE NEW INCREASE, THE TOTAL BILL TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND DIA SCHEMES FOR 1974-75 WILL AMOUNT TO $144.6 MILLION.

BAN ON HIRROR-TYPE WINDSCREENS

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THE USE OF ONE-WAY MIRROR-TYPE WINDSCREENS AND WINDOWS ON MOTOR VEHICLES HAS BEEN BANNED IN HONG KONG UNDER AMENDING REGULATIONS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THE USE OF THIS REFLECTIVE MATERIAL HAS A DAZZLING EFFECT THAT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS IF THE SUN IS REFLECTED INTO THE EYES OF ANOTHER DRIVER.

+MOREOVER, SUCH WINDSCREENS AND WINDOWS MAKE THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLES INVISIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND COULD PROVIDE A MOBILE HIDEOUT FOR CRIMINALS, HE ADDED.

THE BAN DOES NOT APPLY TO TINTED GLASS WHICH IS INSTALLED BY SOME MANUFACTURERS TO PREVENT GLARE.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT AS LONG AGO AS OCTOBER 1972, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT ISSUED A STATEMENT ANNOUNCING THAT HE INTENDED TO SEEK CHANGES IN THE LEGISLATION BANNING THE USE OF THIS REFLECTIVE MATERIAL. THIS WAS FOLLOWED UP BY ANOTHER STATEMENT LAST DECEMBER WARNING THAT REFLECTIVE MATERIAL SHOULD NOT BE USED AS THE BAN WOULD SOON BE INTRODUCED.

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