XN000022-1979-10-07 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1979

INCREASED PAYMENT RATES FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS INCREASED THE RATES OF PAYMENT UNDER THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND WHICH PROVIDES GRANTS AND LOANS TO PEOPLE IN NEED OF RELIEF AS A RESULT OF FIRE, FLOODING, TYPHOON OR OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS.

THE INCREASED RATES ALSO APPLY TO THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME AND THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME AS THEIR SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT IS BASED ON THAT OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND.

THE REVISED RATES OF PAYMENT, WHICH HAVE NOW COME INTO EFFECT, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE RISING COST OF LIVING,

UNDER THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAYMENTS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FOR DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY, DOMESTIC RE-ACCOMMODATION AND RE-EQUIPMENT EXPENSES, REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF VESSELS, AGRICULTURAL LOSS AND SPECIAL CASES.

IN THE CASE OF DEATH AND INJURY GRANTS, THE PAYMENT RATES HAVE BEEN INCREASED BY ABOUT 26 PER CENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, FOR DEATH GRANTS INVOLVING THE LOSS OF A SOLE WAGE-EARNER, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT HAS BEEN RAISED FROM $14 300 TO $20 000, COMPRISING $12 000 FOR ONE SURVIVING DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBER AND $1 000 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL MEMBER.

FOR INJURY GRANTS, THE PAYMENT IS NOW FROM $140 UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $4 300 DEPENDING ON THE GRAVITY OF INJURY. THE PREVIOUS MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM AMOUNTS WERE $120 AND $3 600 RESPECTIVELY.

IN THE CASE OF DOMESTIC RE-ACCOMMODATION AND RE-EQUIPMENT GRANTS, PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN RATIONALISED AND EQUATED WITH THE LEVEL OF GRANTS PAID UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES BY OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

THE FUND WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1962 AS THE COMMUNITY RELIEF TRUST FUND AND WAS RE-NAMED THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND IN 1973. THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND IS VESTED IN THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WHO ACTS ON THE ADVICE OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE, COMPRISING BOTH UNOFFICIAL AND OFFICIAL MEMBERS.

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