XN000022-1987-04-16 — Page 10

ON

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1987

MR LEE SAID THAT 1 329 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED IN 1985-86, REPRESENTING ABOUT 16.9 PER CENT OF THE 7 824 CASES OF CRIMINAL INJURIES REPORTED TO THE POLICE IN THE YEAR.

SIMILAR TO THE PATTERN OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR, VICTIMS OF ASSAULT AND WOUNDING AS WELL AS ROBBERY, THEFT AND BURGLARY MADE UP THE MAJORITY, ABOUT 93 PER CENT, OF THE APPLICANTS.

THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS ARISING FROM CASES OF FALLING OBJECTS WITH 27 APPLICATIONS AS COMPARED WITH 18 IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

APPLICATIONS RELATED TO HOMICIDE, MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER CASES ROSE MARGINALLY TO 46 AS AGAINST 44.

DURING THE YEAR, THERE WAS NO APPLICATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION.

OF ALL THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR, 951 WERE REFERRED BY THE POLICE WHILE 361 WERE SUBMITTED BY THE VICTIMS THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

DURING THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW, THE HIGHEST SINGLE PAYMENT OF $596 294 WAS GRANTED AS THE FINAL AWARD TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES VICTIM INJURED IN A GOLDSMITH SHOP ROBBERY IN 1984. BEFORE THIS, HE HAD ALREADY RECEIVED INTERIM AWARDS AMOUNTING

TO $45 555.

IN GRANTING THE COMPENSATION, THE BOARDS TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE SERIOUSNESS OF A VICTIM'S INJURY, HIS SUFFERING, RESIDUAL DISABILITY AND LOSS OF EARNINGS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BASIS OF COMMON LAW DAMAGES, MR LEE SAID.

HE SAID THAT THE CLEIC SCHEME WAS CONSTANTLY REVIEWED TO MEET CHANGING NEEDS AND THE BOARDS HAD PROPOSED TO EXTEND THE MAXIMUM PAYMENT PERIOD FROM THREE MONTHS TO SIX MONTHS IN RESPECT OF INJURY GRANT AND INTERIM ADJUSTMENT GRANT TO VICTIMS OF SERIOUS INJURIES.

ANOTHER PROPOSAL WAS TO GIVE THE BOARDS DISCRETIONARY POWER TO INCREASE THE AWARDS TO RAPE VICTIMS, AND TO VICTIMS WHO HAD DEMONSTRATED EXEMPLARY EFFORTS IN ASSISTING THE POLICE IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND ARREST OF CRIMINALS IN SPITE OF PERSONAL EMBARRASSMENT, INCONVENIENCE OR FEAR.

THE REPORT NOTED THAT THESE PROPOSALS WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS, WHILE THE PROPOSAL FOR A BEREAVEMENT GRANT WAS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE ADMINISTRATION.

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