XN000022-1981-03-30 — Page 2

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1991

COMPENSATION RULE FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME RELAXED

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT A MAJOR ELIGIBILITY CRITERION OF THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME HAS BEEN RELAXED.

COMPENSATION IS NOW PAYABLE FOR INJURIES WHICH HAVE CAUSED AT LEAST THREE DAYS' LOSS OF EARNING OR EARNING CAPACITY. THE PREVIOUS MINIMUM PER IOD WAS SEVEN DAYS.

RULES ARE ALSO AMENDED TO REQUIRE CLAIMS UNDER THE SCHEME TO BE MADE WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE DATE OF INCIDENT,

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID BOTH CHANGES WERE INTRODUCED WITH EFFECT FROM MARCH 4 THIS YEAR.

THE SCHEME PROVIDES CASH RELIEF FOR PEOPLE INJURED AND FOR DEPENDANTS OF THOSE KILLED IN A CRIME OF VIOLENCE, OR THROUGH THE ACTION OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE COURSE OF HIS DUTIES.

IT IS ADMINISTERED BY TWO BOARDS OF COMMUNITY LEADERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WITH SECRETARIAT SUPPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE RELAXED CRITERION WAS ESTIMATED TO BENEFIT AN EXTRA 200 APPLICANTS AND COST AN ADDITIONAL $180 000 IN PAYMENTS PER ANNUM.

HE SAID THE TIME LIMIT OF THREE YEARS FOR APPLICATIONS WAS IN LINE WITH THE REQUIREMENT FOR LEGAL CLAIMS SEEKING DAMAGES FOR PERSONAL INJURIES, AS IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO INVESTIGATE AND GET ENOUGH EVIDENCE FOR CLAIMS WHICH DATE BACK A VERY LONG TIME.

FROM LAST APRIL TO FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, NEARLY $1.4 MILLION WAS PAID TO 475 APPLICANTS UNDER THE SCHEME, BRINGING TO MORE THAN $9.5 MILLION THE TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED SINCE THE SCHEME STARTED EIGHT YEARS AGO. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, 809 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED, BRINGING TO 4 420 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CLAIMS MADE SINCE 1973.

THE SCHEME RECEIVED ONLY 282 CLAIMS IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION IN 1973-74.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID INJURIES, FOR WHICH CLAIMS WERE MADE, MUST HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE WITHOUT UNREASONABLE DELAY.

APPLICATIONS CAN BE MADE AT THE DEPARTMENT'S CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SECTION ON 14TH FLOOR, WORLD TRADE CENTRE, 280 GLOUCESTER ROAD, HONG KONG (TEL. 5-7903349).

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