Statistics on Code on Access to Information for fourth quarter of 2025 announced
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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 2025 amounted to 296 727. This includes the applications for Notice of Application for Access to Information in relation to the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens) received by the Immigration Department. Of these, 16 864 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 7 132 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny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, 2025, 1 278 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.
Among the 271 453 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 267 875 requests (98.7 per cent) were met, either in full (264 511 requests) or in part (3 364 requests), and 3 578 requests (1.3 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 2025, the Ombudsman received 12 complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 10 complaints, among which two were concluded by inquiries (with no inadequacies found), and eight were assessed and closed. As at December 31, 2025, seven complaints remained under investigation.
Ends/Thursday, March 19, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:30
Issued at HKT 16:30
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