XN000022-1988-05-22 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 1988

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$37.3 M PAID TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS

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MILLION

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PAID OUT ABOUT $37.3 FROM THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE (TAVA) FUND TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDENTS IN 1986-87.

ACCORDING TO THE 1986-87 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TAVA FUND BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, 5,760 APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE WERE RECEIVED IN THAT PERIOD, AS COMPARED WITH 5,583 APPLICATIONS IN 1985-86.

THAT WAS AN INCREASE OF 177 APPLICATIONS OR 3.17 PER CENT, WHICH CORRESPONDED WITH THE TWO PER CENT SLIGHT INCREASE IN REPORTED TO THE POLICE.

CASES

CASES

278

DURING THE YEAR, 5,356 OR 93.8 PER CENT OF THE 5,710 NEW PROCESSED HAD PAYMENTS AUTHORISED. OF THE REMAINING APPLICATIONS, OR 4.9 PER CENT WERE WITHDRAWN, WHILE 76 OR 1.3 PER CENT WERE REJECTED.

THE TAVA SECTION OF THE 90CIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HANDLED 24 CASES CONCERNING SERIOUS TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN THE YEAR IN WHICH HEAVY CASUALTIES WERE INVOLVED.

THE MOST TRAGIC ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 5, 1986 AT SHEK PAI TAU ROAD NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH MING KAM ROAD, WHERE A DOUBLE-DECKER BUS OVERTURNED, KILLING FIVE PEOPLE AND INJURING 65 OTHERS. OF THESE CASUALTIES, 33 WERE FOUND ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE AND A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $191,618 WAS AUTHORISED FOR PAYMENT.

THE HIGHEST SINGLE PAYMENT OF $54,270 IN THE YEAR WAS PAID TO A FATAL CASE IN WHICH THE DECEASED WAS THE SOLE WAGE EARNER AND WAS SURVIVED BY THREE DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBERS.

THE TAVA SCHEME, IN OPERATION SINCE MAY 1979, 19 ONE OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES ADMINISTERED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WITH THE AIM OF PROVIDING SPEEDY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDENTS REGARDLESS OF THE MEANS FAMILY OR THE ELEMENT OF FAULT IN CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.

OF THE

TO QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE, AN APPLICATION MUST BE MADE WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE ACCIDENT, WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE AND THAT IN THE CASE OF INJURY NOT CAUSING DEATH, EVIDENCE OF AT LEAST THREE DAYS' SICK LEAVE MUST BE SHOWN BY HOSPITALISATION OR BY CERTIFICATION.

PAYMENTS ARE MADE FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH BUT DAMAGE PROPERTY IS NOT INCLUDED.

TO

/BENEFICIARIES UNDER