XN000022-1990-11-28 — Page 6

5

REVISION OF LEVIES ON VEHICLE AND DRIVING LICENCES APPROVED

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED AN INCREASE IN THE LEVIES ON VEHICLE AND DRIVING LICENCES SO THAT SUFFICIENT INCOME WILL ACCRUB TO THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE FUND FOR DISBURSEMENT TO CLAIMANTS.

EFFECT ON

UNDER THE NEW RATES, WHICH WILL COME INTO

APRIL 1 FROM NEXT YEAR, THE ANNUAL LEVY ON VEHICLE LICENCES WILL BE INCREASED

ANNUAL LEVY $30 TO $48, WHEREAS THE

ON DRIVING LICENCES WILL BK RAISED FROM $10 TO $16.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH

THE THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT HON ELIZABETH WONG, WHEN MOVING A MOTION UNDER

ON THE REVISION OF VICTIMS (ASSISTANCE FUND) ORDINANCE VEHICLE AND DRIVING LICENCES.

AND

WELFARE,

LEVIES ON

EXPIRY DATE,

MRS WONG THEY WOULD ALSO BE NEXT YBAR FOR A

NOTING THAT THE PRESENT LAW ALLOWED ADVANCE RENEWAL OF DRIVING AND VEHICLE LICENCES FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THEIR SAID TO PREVENT AVOIDANCE OF THE REVISED RATES, APPLICABLE TO ADVANCE RENEWALS MADE BEFORE APRIL 1 VALIDITY PERIOD COMMENCING ON OR AFTER THAT DATE.

ACCIDENT

WAS TO MITIGATE

REFERRING TO THE TRAFFIC

VICTIMS ASSISTANCH (TAVA) SCHEME, MRS WONG SAID ITS OBJECTIVE

THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP WHICH MIGHT RESULT FROM DEATH OR INJURY IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

PROVIDE

IMMEDIATE

ΤΟ "IT IS A WELFARE MEASURE DESIGNED

CASH ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT, OR TO HIS DEPENDANTS

REGARD EITHER TO THE MEANS IN THE CASE OF DEATH, WITHOUT

OF THE RESPECT OF THE CAUSE OF THE FAMILY OR TO ANY ELEMENT OF FAULT IN ACCIDENT.

DRIVING

A

AND GENERAL

"THE SCHEME IS FINANCED BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THREE SOURCES:

LEVY ON

LICENCES LEVY ON VEHICLE LICENCES, A REVENUE," SHE SAID.

THE SURPLUS

MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT UNTIL 1985-86, ANNUAL REVENUE OF

THUS GENERATED A TAVA FUND EXCEEDED ANNUAL EXPENDITURE AND EACH YEAR.

THE POSITION

WAS, HOWEVER, RESULTING IN ANNUAL DEFICITS.

REVERSED FROM 1986-87 ONWARDS,

"THIS WAS MAINLY DUE TO THE INCREASE IN TAVA PAYMENT THE ONE HAND, AND THE GENERAL DOWNTURN OF BANK INTEREST RATES OTHER.

RATES ON

ON THE

་

WITHDRAWAL "THE SURPLUS OF THE FUND WAS FURTHER REDUCED BY THE

SUPPLEMENTARY TAVA SCHEME, OF $83.2 MILLION IN 1986 TO FINANCE THE SHE SAID.

OF

A PACKAGE EXPENDITURE OF THE FUND WOULD INCREASE FURTHER WHEN

THE FIRST QUARTER OF IMPROVEMENT TO THE SCHEME IS INTRODUCED IN NEXT YEAR, MRS WONG SAID.

BE

THE LEVIES ARE "THE LATEST PROJECTION INDICATES THAT IF

COMPLETELY DEPLETED BY INCREASED, THE FUND WILL

1992-93,"

ADDED.

NOT

SHE

16