TNAG-1362-FCO40-1808-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 38

Supplementary to Question No. 4 in the

Legialtive Council on 29 May 1985.

Mr. CHAN Kam-chuen :

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Sir, is the Government aware that out of some 200 reported

occupational fatal accidents in a year, some of these unfortunate families have

to wait about four months to obtain a death certificate just to sell the home

ownership flat to pay off debts and loan interest which is growing larger during

the delay; and in order to ease the hardship of these families, would Government

consider issuing a temporary death certificate swiftly to certify only the fact

that the person is dead, and leave the cause of death, etc. to the coroner to

decide later ?

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Secretary for Security :

with the coroners' inquiry can lead to a lapse of time of up to four months, and

indeed beyond, before a formal death certificate can be issued. The Director of

prepared to Immigration will always be as helpful as he possibly can in these circumstances,

and will issue the next of kin with some other form of notification of death

that he is aware of the death even though it may not have been registered, in

order to help the next of kin with whatever particular problems the next of kin

are facing.

Yes, Sir, we are fully aware that the problem involved

Mr. CHAN Kam-chuen: -Sir, can these easy procedures be publicised, and also be

given to the families of such accidents ?

Secretary for Security : - I'm sure that could be managed, Sir.