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The Government received 605 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information in the fourth quarter of 2006, a spokesman for the Home Affairs Bureau said today (March 14).
This brings the number of requests received, since the introduction of the code in March, 1995, to 21,630. Of these, 19,337 requests (89%) were met, either in full (18,895 requests) or in part (442 requests). Only 425 requests (2%) were refused. A total of 1,030 requests (5%) were subsequently withdrawn and in respect of 735 requests (3%), the bureau/department concerned did not hold the requested information.
At December 31, 2006, 60 requests were still being processed by bureaus and departments.
Anyone who is dissatisfied with the response of a bureau/department under the code may request that the matter be reviewed. A complaint can also be lodged with the Ombudsman.
In the fourth quarter of 2006, the Ombudsman received one complaint relating to the code. The Ombudsman decided not to take action on the case because the bureau/ department concerned was investigating the complaint.
"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/Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:15
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