HAEMOPHILIACS infected with the HIV virus from contaminated blood came one step closer to receiving compensation yesterday when the Haemophilia Association approved the scheme of payments offered by the Government.
In an extraordinary meeting, parents of seven infected children and four adult sufferers said they would accept the Government's offer.
The levels of ex gratia payments, ranging from $300,000 to $1 million, offered to 61 sufferers was announced last week - after a four-month campaign led by the Sunday Morning Post.
Mothers of infected children yesterday thanked Governor Mr Chris Patten and the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Elizabeth Wong Chien Chi-lien, for their help in effecting the settlement.
But while saying it was pleased litigation had been avoided for those sufferers still living, the association criticised the Government as being unfair to families whose children had died.
Under the scheme, the family of a victim who has died will receive $300,000, while single men or children will receive $600,000.
Childless, married men and married men with children will be given $750,000 and $1 million respectively.