Press Releases

     The Government received a total of 472 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information in the fourth quarter of 2009, a spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said today (March 5).

     The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of December 2009 amounted to 28,189. Of these, 1,492 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors, 1,102 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information and 44 requests were still being processed by bureaux and departments.

     Among the 25,551 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments responded to, 24,963 requests (98%) were met, either in full (24,390 requests) or in part (573 requests). 588 requests (2%) were refused.

     Any member of the public who is dissatisfied with the response of a bureau/department under the Code may request the matter be reviewed. He/she may also lodge a complaint with The Ombudsman.

     In the fourth quarter of 2009, The Ombudsman received 10 complaints relating to requests for information.
    
     The Ombudsman completed investigation of nine complaint cases in this quarter. Of these nine completed cases, one was partially substantiated while eight were settled by rendering assistance and clarification to the complainants. Separately, one complaint was withdrawn by the complainant during the quarter and The Ombudsman decided not to pursue one complaint having considered the circumstances of the case. As at December 31, 2009, The Ombudsman was still investigating 14 complaint cases.

     "The statistics show that Government bureaux and departments have been complying with the Code to the general satisfaction of members of the public," the spokesman said.

Ends/Friday, March 5, 2010