ENG-1991 — Page 205

SOCIAL WELFARE

A higher disability allowance, which is twice the normal rate, is payable to those severely disabled persons who require constant attendance from others in their daily life but are not receiving such care in a government or subvented institution. The current monthly rate for the disability allowance is $745 and, for the higher disability allowance, $1,490.

Old-age allowance is non-means-tested for those aged 70 and above, and they are entitled to a current rate of $425 per month. For those below the age of 70, monthly payments are at a lower rate of $343, subject to a declaration that income and assets do not exceed the prescribed levels. The minimum qualifying age for an old-age allowance was lowered to 65 on April 1.

The number of people receiving disability and old-age allowances at the end of the year was 471 803, compared with 444 400 at the end of 1990. Expenditure on special needs allowances during the year was $2,450.6 million, representing an increase of 18.8 per cent over the previous year.

The Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme provides cash assistance to people who are injured in crimes of violence or in helping to prevent crime in Hong Kong. It also extends compensation to those injured by law enforcement officers using weapons in the execution of their duties. Payments are made to their surviving dependent family members in the case of persons killed in any one of these circumstances.

This scheme, which is non-means-tested, is administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Board. Both boards consist of the same chairman and members who are appointed by the Governor, from outside the civil service.

With effect from April 1, improvements were made to the scheme by extending the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board's discretionary power to increase injury grant, interim maintenance grant and disability grant payable by up to 100 per cent to victims of rape on compassionate grounds and also to increase the total awards payable by up to 100 per cent to a victim who, subsequent to the event giving rise to a claim, has made exemplary efforts in the face of personal embarrassment, inconvenience or danger, to assist the police in the arrest of an offender or suspected offender.

During the year, total payments amounted to $7.6 million, compared with $6.6 million in the preceding year.

The Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme provides cash payments to victims of traffic accidents or their dependants on a non-means-tested and no fault basis. It is administered by the Director of Social Welfare in consultation with an advisory committee. For a person to be eligible, the traffic accident must be one as defined under the Traffic Accident Victims (Assistance Fund) Ordinance (Cap. 229) and must have been reported to the police. The application must be lodged within six months of the date of the accident. For a non-fatal case, the victim must have required at least three days sick leave supported by a medical certificate.

An applicant's right to claim legal damages or compensation from other sources in respect of the same accident is not affected by the scheme. In case of a successful claim, the applicant is required to refund either the payment he has received from the scheme or the amount of damages or compensation received, whichever is the less.

Under the scheme, payments are disbursed from the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Fund which is a statutory fund financed by levies on vehicles and driving licences and from general revenue. Payments cover personal injury and death but not damage to property.

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