Statistics on Code on Access to Information for fourth quarter of 2018
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The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of December 2018 amounted to 69 030. Of these, 4 105 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 3 398 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny the existence of information. As at December 31, 2018, 284 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.
Among the 61 243 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 59 757 requests (97.6 per cent) were met, either in full (58 329 requests) or in part (1 428 requests), and 1 486 requests (2.4 per cent) were refused.
Any member of the public who is dissatisfied with the response of a bureau/department under the Code may request that the matter be reviewed. He or she may also lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman.
In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Ombudsman received 19 complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 17 complaints, among which two were substantiated, two were partially substantiated, three were unsubstantiated, and 10 were settled after inquiries by the Ombudsman. As at December 31, 2018, the Ombudsman's investigations on 22 complaints were ongoing.
"The Code has provided an effective framework for the public to seek access to information held by the Government," the spokesman said.
Ends/Friday, June 28, 2019
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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