XN000022-1976-04-28 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1976

COMPENSATION FOR VIOLENT CRIME VICTIMS UNDER REVIEW

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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE IS AT PRESENT REVIEWING THE RATES OF ASSISTANCE PAYABLE UNDER THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND WHICH WERE LAST REVISED IN OCTOBER 1974, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. F.K. LI, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, ANY REVISION OF RATES WILL ALSO APPLY TO THE TWO COMPENSATION SCHEMES ADMINISTERED BY THE CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD, HE SAID.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR. LI EXPLAINED THAT VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME MAY BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR INJURIES BY EITHER ONE OF THE TWO ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS.

+THE CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD ASSESSES COMPENSATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCALES APPLICABLE TO THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND,+ HE SAID. THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD HAS A BROADER BASIS OF ASSESSMENT IN THAT IT CAN EITHER USE THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND SCALES OR ASSESS COMPENSATION ON THE BASIS OF COMMON LAW DAMAGES, REGARDLESS OF THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WHICHEVER IS THE GREATER.+

IN BOTH CASES, HE ADDED, THE BOARDS MAY, AT THEIR DISCRETION, INCREASE AN AWARD UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 100 PER CENT OR REDUCE COMPENSATION IF THEY CONSIDER APPROPRIATE.

VICTIMS OF SEXUAL OFFENCES, SUCH AS RAPE, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR COMPENSATION UNDER THE CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME, ALTHOUGH THE EMERGENCY FUND SCALES ARE NOT RELEVANT, HE SAID.

+IN THESE CASES, THE BOARD CONSIDERS ALL APPLICATIONS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH CASE AND COMPENSATION IS AWARDED ON THE MERITS OF EACH CASE, HAVING GENERAL REGARD TO THE LEVEL OF COMPENSATION PAYABLE TO OTHER VICTIMS OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE,+ MR. LI ADDED.

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