The Social Welfare Department paid $155.1 million from the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Fund in the 2006-07 financial year to help victims or their dependants, down 5.1% on the previous year.

According to the fund's 2006-2007 annual report 9,092 applications were received, up 0.9%.

Police figures show traffic casualties fell 0.08% to 19,043. However, the rate of application for the fund rose from 47.3% to 47.7%.

The accident resulting in the largest number of victims occurred on July 3 last year when four vehicles collided inside Cheung Tsing Tunnel in Kwai Chung. Forty people were injured and 33 were eligible for assistance.