Statistics on Code on Access to Information for first quarter of 2022
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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 2022 amounted to 102 012. Of these, 5 904 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 5 116 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny the existence of the information. As at March 31, 2022, 406 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.
Among the 90 586 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 87 755 requests (96.9 per cent) were met, either in full (85 319 requests) or in part (2 436 requests), and 2 831 requests (3.1 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 2022, the Ombudsman received 14 complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 10 complaints, among which two were partially substantiated and eight were concluded by inquiries (including two cases with inadequacies found). As at March 31, 2022, the Ombudsman's investigations on 19 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, October 21, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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