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The Government received 620 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information in the fourth quarter of 2005, a spokesman of the Home Affairs Bureau said today (February 13).
Of these, 557 requests (90%) were met, either in full (546 requests) or in part (11 requests). Only five requests (1%) were refused. Another 34 requests (5%) were subsequently withdrawn by the applicants and in respect of 16 requests (3%), the Government bureau/department concerned did not hold the information sought.
This brings the number of requests received, since the introduction of the code in March, 1995, to 19,247. Of these, 17,266 requests (90%) were met, either in full (16,868 requests) or in part (398 requests). Only 378 requests (2%) were refused. A total of 848 requests (4%) were subsequently withdrawn and in respect of 644 requests (3%), the bureau/department concerned did not hold the requested information.
At December 31, 2005, 68 requests were still being processed by bureaus and departments.
Anyone who is dissatisfied with the response of a bureau/department under the code can ask that the matter be reviewed by a more senior officer. A complaint can also be lodged with the Ombudsman.
In the fourth quarter of 2005, the Ombudsman did not receive a complaint relating to the code.
"The statistics show that Government bureaus and departments have been complying with the code to the general satisfaction of the people concerned," the spokesman said.
Ends/Monday, February 13, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:35
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