XN000022-1978-12-20 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1978

+THE REQUIREMENT GREATLY REDUCES THE EXTENT OF THE ASSISTANCE TO BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE LITTLE SAVINGS, PARTICULARLY IF THE VICTIM IS THE BREADWINNER, + HE SAID.

MR. WONG ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE WAITING PERIOD FOR ACTUAL PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MADE AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE AND IN NO CASE EXCEED ONE WEEK.

+AS ONE OF THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE SCHEME IS TO ENABLE A VICTIM OR HIS FAMILY TO RECEIVE EARLY RELIEF, GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENSURE THAT PAYMENT IS MADE PROMPTLY, HE SAID.

HE CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE WIDER PUBLICITY TO THE SCHEME SO THAT MORE PEOPLE MAY BE AWARE OF IT.

THE HON. PETER C. WONG SUGGESTED AN AMENDMENT TO THE BILL WHICH WAS ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THE DEFINITION OF A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT HAS BEEN AMENDED TO COVER AN ACCIDENT CAUSED DIRECTLY BY THE PRESENCE+, AND NOT ONLY +THE USE+, OF A VEHICLE ON A ROAD.

MR. WONG EXPLAINED THAT IN ITS ORDINARY MEANING, THE WORD +USE+ WHEN APPLIED TO A VEHICLE, IMPORTS SOME POSITIVE, ACTIVE ELEMENT AND DOES NOT NORMALLY COVER A STATIONARY OR UNATTENDED VEHICLE. NOR WOULD IT COVER AN UNATTENDED VEHICLE CAREERING DOWN A SLOPE.

ALTHOUGH IN CERTAIN JUDICIAL DECISIONS, THE WORD HAS BEEN GIVEN A LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION, THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEE THAT JUDGES WILL INVARIABLY CONSTRUE THE WORD IN THE SAME SENSE IN EVERY CASE.

+SINCE THIS BILL SEEKS TO HELP THE ORDINARY MAN AND WOMAN, THE CASE FOR MAKING THE LAW AS PLAIN AS POSSIBLE IS FURTHER STRENGTHENED, HE SAID.

IN REPLY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES SAID THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THAT PAYMENTS UNDER THE SCHEME SHOULD BE MADE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE AND HE WAS SURE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WOULD DO HIS BEST TO SEE THAT WAS THE CASE.

HE SAID THE SCHEME WOULD BE GIVEN FULL PUBLICITY IN THE MEDIA AND THAT EXPLANATORY PAMPHLETS AND OTHER MATERIAL WERE BEING PREPARED TO HELP INFORM THE PUBLIC OF ITS PROVISIONS.

MR. JONES ALSO INTRODUCED FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE. THE AMENDMENTS WERE ESSENTIALLY DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE POTENTIAL LOSS IN REVENUE AS A RESULT OF VEHICLE AND DRIVING LICENCE HOLDERS RENEWING THEIR LICENCES BEFORE THE EXPIRY DATE IN ORDER TO ESCAPE LEVY PAYMENT UNDER THE SCHEME.

THE BILL WAS LATER PASSED INTO LAW.

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