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The Government received 667 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information in the first quarter of 2007, a spokesman for the Home Affairs Bureau said today (May 25).
This brings the number of requests received, since the introduction of the code in March, 1995, to 22,297. Of these, 19,927 requests (89%) were met, either in full (19,471 requests) or in part (456 requests). Only 432 requests (2%) were refused. A total of 1,054 requests (5%) were subsequently withdrawn and in respect of the remaining 768 requests (3%), the bureau/department concerned did not hold the requested information.
At March 31, 2007, 73 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 first quarter of 2007, the Ombudsman received two complaints relating to the code. The complaints are being considered by the Ombudsman.
"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/Friday, May 25, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:12
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