| Statistics on the Code on Access to Information |
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The Government received a total of 731 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information in the third quarter of 2012, a spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said today (December 3). The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of September 2012 amounted to 34,803. Of these, 1,996 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 1,479 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information. As at September 30, 2012, 88 requests were still being processed by bureaux and departments. Among the 31,240 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and to which which the bureaux/departments have responded, 30,494 requests (97.6 per cent) were met, either in full (29,794 requests) or in part (700 requests), and 746 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 third quarter of 2012, the Ombudsman received 15 complaints relating to requests for information. The Ombudsman concluded work on 13 complaint cases in that quarter. Of these 13 cases, nine were concluded and settled after inquiries by the Ombudsman and one was withdrawn by the applicant. The Ombudsman discontinued investigation into one other case and did not undertake investigation into two cases having considered the circumstances of the cases. As at September 30, 2012, the Ombudsman was still dealing with 16 complaint cases. "The statistics show government bureaux and departments have been complying with the Code to the general satisfaction of members of the public," the spokesman said. Ends/Monday, December 3, 2012 |