Statistics on Code on Access to Information for second quarter of 2020
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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 June 2020 amounted to 83 202. Of these, 4 741 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 4 182 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny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 June 30, 2020, 452 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.
Among the 73 827 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and to which the bureaux/departments had responded, 71 415 requests (96.7 per cent) were met, either in full (69 428 requests) or in part (1 987 requests), and 2 412 requests (3.3 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 second quarter of 2020, the Ombudsman received 40 complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 35 complaints, among which two were substantiated, five were partially substantiated, five were unsubstantiated, 17 were settled after inquiries by the Ombudsman, and six were not pursued by the Ombudsman or outside the Ombudsman's jurisdiction. As at June 30, 2020, the Ombudsman's investigations on 49 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, January 8, 2021
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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