XN000022-1990-07-04 — Page 37

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1990

APART FROM INTEREST ON DEBT, THE COMMISSION'S REPORT ALSO DEALS WITH INTEREST ON DAMAGES. THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT THERE IS NO GENERAL NEED FOR REFORM, BUT PROPOSES SOME MINOR CHANGES TO THE LAW.

ON

THE COMMISSION IS OF THE VIEW THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO GENERAL ENTITLEMENT TO INTEREST ON DAMAGES BUT THAT THE AWARD OF INTEREST DAMAGES SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE COURT'S DISCRETION.

IT PROPOSES THAT THE APPROPRIATE RATE OF INTEREST TO COMPENSATE THE PLAINTIFF IN RESPECT OF SPECIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF EARNINGS AND OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES TO THE DATE OF TRIAL, IN PERSONAL INJURY CASES SHOULD BE HALF OF THE TOTAL OF ADDING THREE PER CENT TO THE BEST LENDING RATE AT THE TIME OF THE AWARD.

IT RECOMMENDS THAT THE RATE OF INTEREST IN RESPECT OF GENERAL DAMAGES TO COMPENSATE THE PLAINTIFF FOR PAIN, SUFFERING AND LOSS OF AMENITIES, WHICH ARE NON-PECUNIARY LOSS, IN PERSONAL INJURY CASES SHOULD BE AWARDED AT THE LOW RATE OF TWO PER CENT FROM THE SERVICE OF THE WRIT TO THE DATE OF TRIAL AS THE AWARD ALREADY TAKES INTO ACCOUNT INFLATION AND THE EXACT JUDGMENT SUM IS UNKNOWN AT THE DATE OF

SERVICE OF THE WRIT.

IT ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO DIVISION OF THE AWARD OF PAIN, SUFFERING AND LOSS OF AMENITIES, AND INTEREST SHOULD BE AWARDED ON THE WHOLE AWARD.

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SUMMER FUN FOR BASTERN YOUNGSTERS

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NO FEWER THAN 250 RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE IN STORE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT THIS SUMMER.

THE ACTIVITIES, ORGANISED BY 42 LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, HAVE BEEN CO-ORDINATED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT YOUTH RECREATIONAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMITTEE SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT A MAIN FEATURE OF THE DISTRICT'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME WAS ΤΟ ENABLE PARTICIPANTS TO EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK, WHILE HAVING FUN DURING THE TWO-MONTH HOLIDAY.

A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED ΤΟ ENHANCE THEIR AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BUILDING FOR A BETTER HONG KONG AND CARING FOR THE ELDERLY.

ALSO, THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSES AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THEIR POTENTIALS AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

/TO MARK