XN000022-1979-07-02 — Page 4

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MONDAY, JULY 2, 1979

SWD PAYS OUT OVER $651,000 UNDER NO FAULT+ TAVA SCHEME

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS PAID OUT MORE THAN $651,000 AS QUICK CASH RELIEF FOR PEOPLE APPLYING UNDER THE +NO FAULT> TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION ON MAY 1.

THE PAYMENTS WERE MADE TO 40 CASES INVOLVING DEATH AND 222 CASES INVOLVING INJURIES WHICH HAVE CAUSED AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS* LOSS OF EARNING CAPACITY,

MRS. DIANA LEE, HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT'S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE (TAVA) SECTION, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) PAYMENTS FOR THE FATAL CASES TOTALLED $196,300, AND THAT FOR THE INJURY CASES, $455,000.

SHE SAID THE GRANTS FOR THE INJURY CASES INCLUDED SECOND PAYMENTS IN 47 CASES WHEREBY THE APPLICANTS WERE MEDICALLY CERTIFIED TO REQUIRE EXTENDED SICK LEAVE.

IN THE CASES ALREADY PROCESSED, SHE SAID, THE HIGHEST PAYMENT WAS $12,800 MADE IN ONE FATAL CASE, WHILE OTHER PAYMENTS RANGED FROM $800 TO $11,800,

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+AT PRESENT, 221 OTHER APPLICATIONS ARE BEING PROCESSED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND THE APPLICANTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE PAYMENTS IN A FAIRLY SHORT TIME. SHE SAID.

THE SCHEME, WHICH IS NON-MEANS TESTED, AIMS AT PROVIDING QUICK CASH RELIEF FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS, REGARDLESS OF WHO WAS AT FAULT IN CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.

MRS. LEE SAID PEOPLE INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ON OR AFTER MAY 1 THIS YEAR COULD APPLY WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE ACCIDENT.

ENQUIRIES 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).

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