XN000022-1986-06-04 — Page 12

11

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1986

DR LAI STRESSED THAT CARE SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT ANY RESTRICTION IN THE NUMBER OF PERMITS ISSUED SHOULD NOT LEAD TO THE CREATION OF A BLACK MARKET IN PERMITS.

+I UNDERSTAND THAT THE INTENTION IS TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM BY MAKING THE PERMITS VALID FOR ONLY ONE YEAR AND BY MAKING THEM NON-TRANSFERABLE, HE SAID.

ON THE POWERS OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO REFUSE THE ISSUE OF A PERMIT OR TO CANCEL A PERMIT, DR LAI SAID THE PERMIT SYSTEM WAS A SIMPLE ONE AND SHOULD NOT BE ENCUMBERED WITH COMPLICATED STATUTORY APPEAL PROCEDURES OF THE KIND THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO PERSONS DENIED LICENCES FOR OTHER TYPES OF VEHICLES.

NEVERTHELESS, HE SAID HE HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PERMIT SYSTEM IN ITS FIRST YEAR TO SEE WHETHER STATUTORY MACHINERY TO DEAL WITH APPEALS WAS NECESSARY.

AMENDMENTS MADE TO ASSISTANCE SCHEME

*****

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEME TO MAKE UP FOR A NUMBER OF DEFICIENCIES WHICH HAD BEEN INDENTIFIED IN THE EXISTING PROVISIONS,

IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID THE AMENDMENTS WERE NECESSARY SO THAT THE SCHEME COULD BE IMPLEMENTED AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED. THE INTENTION HAD BEEN TO ENABLE EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO BE MADE TO VICTIMS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING VEHICLES INSURED WITH FIVE INSOLVENT INSURERS.

+THESE AMENDMENTS RELATE MAINLY TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEME AND CLARIFY CERTAIN POINTS. THE SUBSTANCE 15 UNCHANGED,+ HE SAID.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD ENABLE THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE TO EXERCISE ITS DISCRETION TO DETERMINE THE ELIGIBILITY OF APPLICANTS, THE EXTENT OF LIABILITY OF ANY DEFENDANT OR THE INSURER, THE QUANTUM OF EACH CLAIM, THE AMOUNT OF EACH EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS AND ALL OTHER QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT ARISE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SCHEME ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE, WITHOUT BEING UNDER ANY OBLIGATION TO REQUIRE FURTHER EVIDENCĖ.

THE AMENDED SCHEME ALSO ENABLES THE COMMITTEE TO ACCEPT AND CONSIDER CLAIMS NOTWITHSTAND ING THE EXPIRY OF ANY RELEVANT LIMITATION PERIOD, MR JACOBS SAID.

/+THIS AMENDMENT