00:00The Cabinet has agreed in principle to introduce court-ordered compensation for victims of serious road accidents,
00:07including cases involving drink driving, drug-impaired driving, and reckless or dangerous driving.
00:14Transport Minister Lok Siu-fuk said the compensation would be imposed in addition to existing penalties under the Road Transport
00:21Act,
00:22such as imprisonment, fines, and driving disqualification.
00:26He said the proposal would be included in amendments to the Act,
00:30which would also strengthen the Kejara demerit points system.
00:34Lok Siu-fuk said victims or their families currently have to file separate civil suits to seek compensation,
00:41a process that can be costly and take years.
00:45He said the government wants compensation to be considered as part of criminal proceedings,
00:50so offenders are held accountable not only for the offence committed,
00:55but also for its impact on victims and their families.
01:00The amount would be decided by the courts based on each case,
01:03including the seriousness of the offence,
01:06whether it caused injury or death,
01:08the losses suffered,
01:10and the offender's ability to pay.
01:12Lok Siu-fuk said the mechanism would not affect the right of victims or their families
01:17to make insurance claims or pursue separate civil action.
01:21Lok Siu-fuk said the ministry hopes to table the bill in parliament by year-end.
01:26I'm Radeep Gill, FMT.
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