ENG-2001 — Page 249

SOCIAL WELFARE

Accident Compensation Schemes

The CLEIC Scheme provides cash assistance to victims of crimes of violence and law enforcement acts (or to their dependants in cases of death) on a non-means-tested basis. In case of a subsequent successful claim for damages or compensation, the applicant is required to refund the payment he has received from the scheme or the amount of damages or compensation, whichever is the less.

During the year, 588 applications were approved for assistance amounting to $11.07 million, compared with $10.30 million in the previous year.

The TAVA Scheme provides speedy financial assistance to road traffic accident. victims (or to their dependants in cases of death). The scheme is non-means-tested and does not take into account the element of fault in causing the accident. In case of a subsequent successful claim for damages or compensation, the applicant is required to refund the payment he has received under the scheme or the amount of damages or compensation, whichever is the less.

During the year, 7 639 applications were approved for assistance amounting to $138.69 million, compared with $130.20 million in 2000.

Emergency relief in the form of cooked meals or dry rations and other essential relief articles, is provided to victims of natural and other disasters. Grants from the Emergency Relief Fund are paid to these victims (or to their dependants in cases of death). Emergency relief was given to 1 134 victims on 41 occasions during the year.

Social Security Appeal Board

The Social Security Appeal Board considers appeals against the SWD's decisions. concerning CSSA, SSA and TAVA. It heard 67 appeals during the year. Of these, 18 related to CSSA, 46 to SSA and three to TAVA.

Services for Elders

The basic principle underlying services for the elders is to provide senior citizens with a sense of security, a sense of belonging and a feeling of health and worthiness. The aim is to promote the well-being of those persons aged 60 and over in all aspects of their life through provision of services that will enable them to remain active members of the community for as long as possible, and, to the extent necessary, to provide residential care suited to their varying needs.

Community support services are provided to elders who require assistance to continue living at home. Support is also provided for their carers. At the end of the year, there were 35 multi-service centres for elders, one district elderly community centre, 139 home help teams, 25 home care teams, 25 meal teams, 18 enhanced home and community care services teams, 37 day-care centres for elders, two carers' support centres, 214 social centres for elders, 36 support teams for elders, one holiday centre for elders and one outdoor/recreational pool bus service for elders. Under the Senior Citizen Card Scheme, about 720 000 Senior Citizen Cards were issued by the end of 2001. A total of 8 298 companies, organisations, government departments with 11 424 units and outlets, and 1 688 medical units with 1 892 branches participated in the scheme to provide concessions, discounts and priority services to senior citizens. Residential care is provided for elders who need care in their daily living which can be provided only in a residential setting. At the end of 2001, there were 260 hostel places, 7 531 homes for the aged places, 10 238 care-and-attention home places and

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