ENG-1983 — Page 153

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SOCIAL WELFARE

The Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme provides cash assistance for people injured and for dependents of those killed in crimes of violence or through the action of law enforcement officers in the execution of their duties. The scheme is non-means-tested and non-contributory and is administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Board. Assess- ments in respect of compensation are made in accordance with either the payment schedule of the Emergency Relief Fund or common law damages, depending on the nature of the case. Total payments in 1983 amounted to $2.9 million, compared with $2.4 million the previous year.

The Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme provides prompt financial assistance to traffic accident victims, or their dependents in the case of death, without regard to the means of the family or to any element of fault in the cause of the accident. However, the accident must have been reported to the police and the application must be made within six months of the date of the accident. In the case of injury not causing death, evidence of at least three days' sick leave must be produced in the form of certification by a hospital or registered medical practitioner. The scheme covers only traffic accidents as defined under the Traffic Accident Victims (Assistance Fund) Ordinance. Payments are made for personal injury or death only; damage to property is not covered. The scheme does not affect the applicant's right to claim common law damages in the usual way. Beneficiaries of the scheme who subsequently receive damages, or other compensation in respect of the same accident, are required to refund the payments they have received from the scheme or the amount of damages or compensation, whichever is less. The rates and conditions of payment under the scheme are based on the payment schedule of the Emergency Relief Fund. During the year, 6 740 applications were received, of which 6 120 were approved for assistance payments amounting to $31 million.

Emergency relief is provided in the form of immediate material aid, such as hot meals, blankets and other essentials, to victims of natural and other disasters. In addition, grants from the Emergency Relief Fund are paid to the families of those killed, injured or disabled as a result of such disasters. During the year, emergency relief was rendered on 185 occasions to 10 000 registered victims.

To prevent abuse of the various social security schemes, a special investigation team carries out in-depth investigation of cases of suspected fraud or over-payment. During the year, the team completed investigations,into 203 cases, some of which were referred to the Attorney General for legal advice and possible prosecution.

The Social Security Appeal Board is an independent body which considers appeals from individuals against decisions by the Social Welfare Department regarding social security benefits. During the year it heard 70 appeals. Of these, 17 related to Public Assistance cases and 53 to Special Needs Allowance cases.

Services for Offenders

Services for criminal offenders include provision for following the directions of the courts on the treatment of offenders by social work methods, with the aim of reintegrating them into the community. These services include probation supervision operated through probation offices serving each magistracy and higher court, a remand home service, residential training for young offenders and after-care.

Probation, which is an alternative penalty to imprisonment, applies to offenders of all age groups. It allows offenders to remain in the community under the supervision of probation officers and subject to prescribed rules of conduct set by the courts. Apart from