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In the first quarter of 2003, the Government had received a total of 486 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information, a spokesman of the Home Affairs Bureau said today (April 30).

Of these, 430 requests (88.5%) were met, either in full (411 requests) or in part (19 requests). Only nine requests (1.9%) were refused. The remaining 47 requests included withdrawals by applicants and requests being processed.

This brings the total number of requests received to 13 258 since the introduction of the Code in March 1995. Of these, 11 953 requests (90.2%) were met, either in full (11 674 requests) or in part (279 requests). Only 244 requests (1.8%) were refused. The remaining 1 061 requests included referrals to other organisations, withdrawals by applicants and requests being processed.

Any member of the public who is dissatisfied with a department's response under the Code may ask that the matter be reviewed by a more senior officer. If, after review, he still thinks that the department has not complied with the Code, he may complain to the Ombudsman.

In the first quarter of 2003, the Ombudsman had received one complaint relating to the Code, which was concluded by the Ombudsman's rendering assistance/clarification to complainants after examination of information provided by the department concerned.

"The statistics show that Government departments have been applying the Code properly to the general satisfaction of the members of the public concerned," said the spokesman.

End/Wednesday, April 30, 2003

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