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The Government received 580 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information in the third quarter of 2005, a spokesman of the Home Affairs Bureau said today (October 28).
Of these, 497 requests (85.7%) were met, either in full (480 requests) or in part (17 requests). Only 12 requests (2.07%) were refused. The remaining 71 requests included referrals to other organisations, withdrawals by applicants and requests being processed.
This brings the number of requests received, since the introduction of the Code in March, 1995, to 18,627. Of these, 16,709 requests (89.7%) were met, either in full (16,322 requests) or in part (387 requests). Only 373 requests (2%) were refused. The remaining 1,545 requests included referrals to other organisations, withdrawals by applicants and requests being processed.
Any person 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 third quarter of 2005, the Ombudsman had received three complaints relating to the Code. One of the cases has been withdrawn by the complainant. After examination of another case, the Ombudsman rendered assistance/ clarification to the complainant and concluded the case. The third case was being examined by the Ombudsman.
"The statistics show that Government departments have been applying the Code properly to the general satisfaction of the people concerned,กจ the spokesman said.
Ends/Friday, October 28, 2005
Issued at HKT 14:00
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