XN000022-1980-06-08 — Page 4

SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 1980

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SWD PAYS OUT OVER $13.8 MILLION UNDER +NO FAULT+ TAVA SCHEME

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS PAID OUT MORE THAN $13.8 MILLION AS QUICK CASH RELIEF FOR PEOPLE APPLYING UNDER THE +NO FAULT+ TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME.

ANOTHER $103 600 AUTHORISED FOR PAYMENT TO 46 CASES ARE AWAITING COLLECTION AT THE DEPARTMENT.

THE PAYMENTS ALREADY MADE WERE GRANTED TO 375 CASES INVOLVING DEATH AND 3.457 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 (SUNDAY) PAYMENTS FOR FATAL CASES TOTALLED $2.6 MILLION AND THAT FOR INJURY CASES, OVER $11.2 MILLION.

SHE SAID THE INJURY GRANTS INCLUDED $2.3 MILLION AS FURTHER PAYMENTS TO THOSE MEDICALLY CERTIFIED TO REQUIRE EXTENDED SICK LEAVE.

IN THE CASES ALREADY PROCESSED, SHE SAID, THE HIGHEST PAYMENT WAS $21 160 MADE IN ONE FATAL CASE, WHILE OTHER PAYMENTS RANGED FROM $800 TO $21 100,

+AT PRESENT, 298 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 IMPLEMENTED IN MAY LAST YEAR AIMS AT PROVIDING QUICK CASH RELIEF FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THE IR DEPENDANTS REGARDLESS OF WHO WAS AT FAULT IN CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.

MRS LEE SAID PEOPLE INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS 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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