XN000022-1979-04-25 — Page 15

13

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1979

APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE MADE IN A SPECIFIED FORM, WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM NEXT MONTH AT THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SECTION OF EACH DISTRICT TRAFFIC POLICE HEADQUARTERS, AND AT THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SECTION (TAVĀ SECTION) OF THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SCHEME CAN BE MADE AT THE TAVA SECTION ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE FIRE BRIGADE BUILDING AT 46 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG (TEL. NOS. 5-222392 AND 5-223254), HE ADDED.

+

+NORMALLY, THE POLICE OFFICER INVESTIGATING THE ACCIDENT WILL EXPLAIN THE SCHEME TO THE VICTIM OR TO HIS NEXT OF KIN, HE SAID.

MR. LEE SAID THE APPLICANT, UNLESS PREVENTED BY SPECIAL · CIRCUMSTANCES OR IMMOBILITY, WILL BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND AN INTERVIEW AT THE TAVA SECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSESSING ELIGIBILITY AND THE AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS.

PAYMENTS UNDER THE SCHEME WILL BE AT THE SAME LEVELS AS THOSE CONTAINED IN THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND WHICH IS REVIEWED AND ADJUSTED FROM TIME TO TIME, HE SAID.

THE CURRENT LEVELS OF A DEATH GRANT FOR THE LOSS OF THE SOLE WAGE EARNER IN A FAMILY RANGE FROM $9,500 TO $14,300, AND THE MAXIMUM LEVEL OF AN INJURY GRANT AND A DISABILITY GRANT IS $3,600 AND $11,900 RESPECTIVELY, HE SAID.

FOR A WAGE EARNER, AN ADDITIONAL GRANT CAN BE MADE TO COVER THE LOSS OF EARNINGS UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $2,400, HE ADDED.

MR. LEE EXPLAINED THAT AS THE SCHEME IS INTENDED AS A WELFARE MEASURE, IT WILL NOT AFFECT THE APPLICANT'S RIGHT TO CLAIM AGAINST ANY PERSON IN THE USUAL WAY IN RESPECT OF THE SAME ACCIDENT,

+ IF A VICTIM SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVES DAMAGES OR SOME OTHER FORM OF COMPENSATION, HE WILL BE REQUIRED TO REFUND THE SUMS PAID TO HIM, INITIALLY, UNDER THE SCHEME, HE SAID.

IN THIS CONNECTION, HE SAID, THE APPLICANT WILL HAVE TO SIGN AN UNDERTAKING AS A STATUTORY OBLIGATION, FIRST, TO NOTIFY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WITHIN ONE MONTH OF ANY CLAIM OR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS BY HIM IN RESPECT OF THE ACCIDENT, AND, SECOND, TO NOTIFY ANY PERSON, AGAINST WHOM HE MAKES A CLAIM, OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY HE HAS RECEIVED FROM THE SCHEME.

THE PERSON NOTIFIED WILL THEN BE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE OF ANY PAYMENT HE MAKES TO THE APPLICANT NOT LESS THAN 72 HOURS BEFORE THE DAY ON WHICH THE PAYMENT IS TO BE MADE, HE SAID.

IT WILL BE AN OFFENCE TO WILFULLY BREACH THE UNDERTAKING, HE SAID.

AR. LEE SAID