XN000022-1986-02-10 — Page 4

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1986

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$34.6 MILLION AID FOR ACCIDENT VICTIMS

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PAID OUT $34.6 MILLION IN 1985 TO HELP TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS.

THE PAYMENTS, MADE UNDER THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE (TAVA) SCHEME ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WERE 8.8 PER CENT MORE THAN PAYMENTS MADE IN 1984.

LAST YEAR, 5 622 APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE WERE RECEIVED, COMPARED WITH 5 916 IN 1984.

A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE FEWER APPLICATIONS RESULTED FROM A DECLINE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CASUALTIES.

ABOUT 93 PER CENT (5 233) OF THE APPLICATIONS WERE SUCCESSFUL COMPARED WITH 90 PER CENT IN 1984, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IN ONE INCIDENT OCCURRING ON FEBRUARY 2 LAST YEAR AT THE JUNCTION OF LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD AND TAI CHUNG KIU ROAD IN SHA TIN, 54 VICTIMS WERE INVOLVED, AND ASSISTANCE AMOUNTING TO $66 577 WAS PAID TO 27 OF THEM.

THERE WERE TWO CASES IN WHICH THE HIGHEST SINGLE PAYMENT OF $48 280 WAS MADE TO EACH OF TWO FAMILIES INVOLVING THE LOSS OF THE SOLE WAGE-EARNERS.

THE TAVA SCHEME PROVIDES EARLY FINANCIAL HELP TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THE IR DEPENDANTS, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE MEANS OF THE FAMILY OR THE ELEMENT OF FAULT.

ANY PERSON INJURED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE IF THE CASE HAD BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE, AND THE PERSON HAD OBTAINED THREE DAYS OF SICK LEAVE FROM A REGISTERED DOCTOR, OR BY CERTIFICATION OR HOSPITALISATION. APPLICATIONS MUST BE MADE TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE ACCIDENT.

ENQUIRIES AND APPLICATIONS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE DEPARTMENT'S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SECTION ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF VICTORIA CENTRE, 15 WATSON ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY OR BY CALLING 5-702342.

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