A total of 540 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information were received in the second quarter, the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau said today.

The total number of requests received since the introduction of the code in March 1995 and up to the end of June amounted to 27,191, with 1,411 requests withdrawn. About 1,030 requests covered cases in which the bureaux or departments did not hold the requested information and 65 are still being processed.

Of the 24,685 requests the bureaux and departments responded to, 24,118 requests, or 98%, were met, while 567 requests were refused.

In the second quarter the Ombudsman received four complaints relating to the code. The Ombudsman also completed investigations into two complaints that were both settled by offering assistance and clarification to the complainants. As at June 30 seven complaint cases were being investigated.