XN000022-1982-01-06 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1982

QUICKER FINANCIAL AID FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS

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TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS WILL HENCEFORTH BE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AFTER THREE DAYS' LOSS OF EARNINGS, INSTEAD OF SEVEN DAYS AS WAS THE CASE PREVIOUSLY.

THIS IS PROVIDED IN AMENDMENTS TO THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE (TAVA) SCHEME APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY,

IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON ERIC HO, EXPLAINED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE TAVA SCHEME IS TO PROVIDE SOME IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL RELIEF TO ANY PERSON SUSTAINING INJURY (OR IN THE CASE OF DEATH, TO HIS DEPENDANTS) AS A RESULT OF A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.

SINCE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME IN MAY 1, 1979, IT HAD BECOME APPARENT THAT THE PREVIOUS SEVEN-DAY RULE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS SUFFERING FROM LESS SERIOUS INJURIES TO QUALIFY.

+THIS WILL ALSO BRING THE TAVA SCHEME INTO LINE WITH THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME AS WELL AS THE PAID SICK LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, + HE SAID.

THE COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED AMENDMENTS REDUCING THE LEVIES CHARGED ON VEHICLES, TRADE LICENCES AND DRIVING LICENCES FOR FINANCING THE TAVA SCHEME.

MR HO SAID ALSO THAT THE RATES OF PAYMENTS UNDER THE TAVA SCHEME HAD ALREADY BEEN INCREASED BY 35 PER CENT (EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF BURIAL GRANT WHICH HAS BEEN RAISED TO $3 000) FROM DECEMBER 23, LAST YEAR.

MR HO FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT EXPERIENCE HAD SHOWN THAT EXPECTED PAYMENTS UNDER THE SCHEME HAD BEEN OVER-ESTIMATED AND IT WAS THEREFORE, FELT THAT THE LEVIES IMPOSED TO SUPPORT THE TAVA SCHEME SHOULD BE REDUCED BY 60 PER CENT. LEVIES FOR VEHICLE LICENCES AND FULL DRIVING LICENCES WOULD BE REDUCED FROM $75 A YEAR TO $30, AND OTHER DRIVING LICENCES FROM $25 TO $10 A YEAR, WITH EFFECT FROM MAY 1 THIS YEAR.

ADVANCED RENEWAL OF DRIVING LICENCES WHICH BECOME EFFECTIVE ON MAY 1 WOULD ALSO BE CHARGED THE REDUCED LEVIES, HE SAID.

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