Statistics on Code on Access to Information for first quarter of 2019
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The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of March 2019 amounted to 70 985. Of these, 4 196 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 3 503 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny the existence of information. As at March 31, 2019, 292 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.
Among the 62 994 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 61 459 requests (97.6 per cent) were met, either in full (59 965 requests) or in part (1 494 requests), and 1 535 requests (2.4 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 first quarter of 2019, the Ombudsman received 19 complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 16 complaints, among which three were substantiated, one was partially substantiated, two were unsubstantiated, eight were settled after inquiries by the Ombudsman, and two were not pursued by the Ombudsman or outside the Ombudsman's jurisdiction. As at March 31, 2019, the Ombudsman's investigations on 25 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/Friday, September 27, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:00
Issued at HKT 16:00
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