XN000022-1980-10-02 — Page 3

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1980

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HIGHER PAYMENTS FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS INCREASED BY OVER 15 PER CENT THE PAYMENT RATES 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 PAYMENTS IS BASED ON THAT OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THE INCREASE IN PAYMENT RATES TOOK ACCOUNT OF THE RISING COST OF LIVING, AND CAME INTO EFFECT THIS MONTH.

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

FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE DEATH OF A SOLE WAGE-EARNER, THE MAXIMUM GRANT HAS BEEN RAISED FROM $20 000 TO $23 000, COMPRISING $13 800 FOR ONE SURVIVING DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBER AND $1 150 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL SURVIVING DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBER, HE SAID.

IN THE CASE OF LOSS OF THE HUSBAND OR WIFE WHO IS NOT A WAGE-EARNER AND WHERE THERE ARE CHILDREN, THE MAXIMUM DEATH GRANT HAS GONE UP FROM $14 000 TO $16 200, HE ADDED.

THE BURIAL GRANT HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM $1 100 TO $1 600.

FOR INJURY GRANTS, PAYMENT IS NOW $160, UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $4 960 DEPENDING ON THE GRAVITY OF THE INJURY. THE PREVIOUS MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM AMOUNTS WERE $140 AND $4 300 RESPECTIVELY.

THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND WAS INTRODUCED IN 1962 AS THE COMMUNITY RELIEF TRUST FUND AND WAS RENAMED IN 1973. IT IS MANAGED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE ACTING ON THE ADVICE OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE, WHICH COMPRISES BOTH UNOFFICIAL AND OFFICIAL MEMBERS.

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