Statistics on Code on Access to Information for fourth quarter of 2016
**********************************************************************
The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of December 2016 amounted to 55,235. Of these, 3,218 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 2,579 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information. As at December 31, 2016, 247 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.
Among the 49,191 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 48,041 requests (97.7 per cent) were met, either in full (46,989 requests) or in part (1,052 requests), and 1,150 requests (2.3 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 fourth quarter of 2016, the Ombudsman received 17 complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 25 complaints, among which four were substantiated, three were partially substantiated, one was unsubstantiated, 16 were settled after inquiries by the Ombudsman, and one was not pursued by the Ombudsman or outside the Ombudsman's jurisdiction. As at December 31, 2016, the Ombudsman's investigations on 13 complaints were ongoing.
"The Code has provided an effective framework for the public to seek access to information held by the Government," the spokesman said.
Ends/Monday, July 24, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
NNNN