A total of 526 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information were received in the third quarter, the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau says.

It brings the total number of requests received since the introduction of the code in March 1995 to 27,717. Of the 25,125 requests in which the Government held the information and responded to, 24,549 requests (98%) were met, either in full (23,986) or in part (563).

Fifty-five requests are still being processed. Only 576 (2%) were refused, while 1,464 were subsequently withdrawn. The Government did not hold the requested information in respect of 1,073 requests.

In the third quarter the Ombudsman received 11 complaints relating to the code and has completed investigations of six complaint cases.

Of the six cases one was substantiated while five were settled by offering assistance and clarification to the complainants. Two complaints were withdrawn. Up to the end of September the Ombudsman was still investigating 13 complaints.