A total of 538 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information were received in the first quarter of this year, the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau says.

The total number of requests received since the code launched in March 1995 amounted to 26,651. Of the 24,262 requests which the departments had the information for and responded to, 23,713 (98%) were met, either in full (23,179) or in part (534).

Departments are still processing 63 requests. Only 549 (2%) were refused, while 1,353 were withdrawn. The departments concerned did not hold the requested information in 973 cases.

In the first quarter the Ombudsman received five complaints relating to the code and has completed investigations into seven cases including those carried over from previous quarters. One was partially substantiated while six were settled by offering assistance and clarification to the complainants. Up to the end of March, the Ombudsman was still investigating five complaints.