Statistics on Code on Access to Information for fourth quarter of 2021
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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 December 2021 amounted to 99 716. Of these, 5 729 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 5 003 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny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 December 31, 2021, 420 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.
Among the 88 564 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 85 774 requests (96.8 per cent) were met, either in full (83 389 requests) or in part (2 385 requests), and 2 790 requests (3.2 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 2021, the Ombudsman received 22 complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 22 complaints, among which one was partially substantiated, two were unsubstantiated and 19 were concluded by inquiries (including seven cases with inadequacies found). As at December 31, 2021, the Ombudsman's investigations on 15 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, July 22, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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