XN000022-1980-02-18 — Page 3

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1980

SWD PAYS OUT OVER $8.8 MILLION UNDER TAVA SCHEME

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS PAID OUT MORE THAN $8.8 MILLION AS QUICK CASH RELIEF FOR PEOPLE APPLYING UNDER THE +NO FAULT+ TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION LAST MAY.

ANOTHER $300 000 HAVE BEEN AUTHORISED FOR PAYMENT TO 71 CASES AND AWAIT COLLECTION AT THE DEPARTMENT.

THE PAYMENTS ALREADY MADE WERE GRANTED TO 271 CASES INVOLVING DEATH AND 2 355 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) THE AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS FOR THE FATAL CASES TOTALLED $1.83 MILLION AND THAT FOR THE INJURY CASES, OVER $7 MILLION.

SHE SAID THE $7 MILLION INJURY GRANTS INCLUDED FURTHER PAYMENTS OF $1.4 MILLION IN 870 CASES WHEREBY THE APPLICANTS WERE MEDICALLY CERTIFIED TO REQUIRE EXTENDED SICK LEAVE.

IN THE CASES ALREADY PROCESSED, SHE SAID, THE HIGHEST PAYMENT WAS $21 100 MADE IN ONE FATAL CASE, WHILE OTHER PAYMENTS RANGED FROM $800 TO $20 100.

+AT PRESENT, 393 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 NON-MEANS TESTED SCHEME 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 AFTER MAY 1 LAST YEAR COULD APPLY WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE ACCIDENT.

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).

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