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SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1993

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$59.6 MILLION PAID TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT (SWD) PAID OUT MORE THAN $59.6 MILLION FROM THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE (TAVA) FUND TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS IN 1991/92.

ACCORDING TO THE 1991/92 TAVA FUND ANNUAL REPORT, 5,604 APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE WERE RECEIVED IN THE PERIOD, REPRESENTING A DROP OF SIX PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH 5,951 APPLICATIONS 1990/91.

IN

THE DEPARTMENT HANDLED 39 CASES OF SERIOUS TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN THE YEAR IN WHICH HEAVY CASUALTIES WERE INVOLVED.

THE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN THE LARGEST NUMBER OF CASUALTIES OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 29, 1991 AT TUEN MUN ROAD WHICH INVOLVED A CHAIN COLLISION OF TWO GOODS VEHICLES AND THREE BUSES.

FOUND

FORTY-EIGHT PEOPLE WERE INJURED AND 12 OF THEM WERE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE. A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $27,517 WAS PAID ΤΟ THESE VICTIMS.

THE TAVA SCHEME, OPERATING SINCE MAY 1979, IS ONE OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES ADMINISTERED BY SWD.

IT AIMS TO PROVIDE QUICK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ΤΟ TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS, REGARDLESS OF THE MEANS OF THE FAMILY OR THE ELEMENT OF FAULT IN CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE, AN APPLICATION MUST BE MADE WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE ACCIDENT WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN REPORTED ΤΟ THE POLICE.

IN MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, STAFF FROM THE TAVA SECTION WOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO CONTACT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS DIRECTLY TO HELP THEM APPLY AT AN EARLY DATE.

DEATH,

IN THE CASE OF INJURY NOT CAUSING

AN APPLICANT MUST OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE FROM A REGISTERED DOCTOR REQUIRING AT LEAST THREE DAYS OF SICK LEAVE.

BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE SCHEME STILL RETAIN THE RIGHT ΤΟ MAKE CLAIMS FOR LEGAL DAMAGES OR COMPENSATION FROM OTHER SOURCES IN THE USUAL WAY.

THOSE WHO RECEIVE COMPENSATION IN RESPECT OF THE SAME TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ARE REQUIRED TO REPAY THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE SCHEME.

BUT IN ANY CASE THE AMOUNT TO BE REPAID SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION AWARDED.

APPLICATION CAN BE MADE EITHER IN PERSON OR BY POST,

APPLICATION FORMS ARE OBTAINABLE AT THE POLICE'S ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION UNITS OF REGIONAL TRAFFIC, DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, AND SWD'S TAVA SECTION AT 942, WU CHUNG HOUSE, 213 QUEEN'S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI.

CITY ROOM

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