XN000022-1982-12-07 — Page 5

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1982

MORE SEEK PAYMENTS UNDER INJURIES SCHEME

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APPLICATIONS FOR CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR REACHED A RECORD HIGH

OF 997.

THIS REPRESENTED AN

OVER THE PRECEDING YEAR,

INCREASE OF 96 CASES, OR 10.6 PER CENT

ACCORDING TO THE 1981-82 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION (CLEIC) BOARDS.

THE SCHEME, STARTED IN 1973, PROVIDES CASH RELIEF FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES OR THEIR DEPENDENTS.

DESPITE THE DROP IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CASES WITH INJURIES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, THERE HAD BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE APPLICATION RATE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS, MR ROBERT WEI, SAID IN THE REPORT.

+ IT IS PROBABLY DUE TO THE INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND THE RELAXATION OF THE MINIMUM SICK LEAVE REQUIREMENT FROM SEVEN TO THREE DAYS, HE SAID.

+THE INCREASE IS PROBABLY ALSO ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE CONTINUOUS EFFORTS MADE BY THE BOARDS' STAFF IN ENCOURAGING INNOCENT VICTIMS TO SUBMIT THEIR CLAIMS AND THEIR READINESS IN RENDERING ASSISTANCE TO THESE VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS, HE ADDED.

THE POLICE ARE STILL THE MAIN REFERRING CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH APPLICATION FORMS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE VICTIMS.

REFERRALS BY THE POLICE DURING THE YEAR NUMBERED 639 CASES,

OR 64 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS.

THE NUMBER OF DIRECT APPLICATIONS ALSO INCREASED, FROM 243 TO 295.

PAYMENTS, AMOUNTING TO $2.2 MILLION, WERE MADE TO 594 NEW AND REVIEW CASES DURING THE YEAR.

THE YEAR SAW THE LARGEST SINGLE AWARD OF $29 700 BEING MADE TO THE WIDOW AND TWO CHILDREN OF A GEM DEALER WHO WAS MURDERED IN A WAN CHAI HOTEL ROOM IN DECEMBER 1981.

THE CLEIC BOARDS ALSO REFERRED THE FAMILY TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

ASSAULT-WOUNDING AND ROBBERY-THEFT-BURGLARY REMAINED TO BE THE MAJOR CATEGORIES, ACCOUNTING FOR 600 AND 317 CASES RESPECTIVELY,

THERE WERE 12 APPLICATIONS FOR COMPENSATION FROM SEXUAL OFFENCE VICTIMS DURING THE YEAR, EIGHT MORE THAN IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

/+THROUGH THR