Some 534 requests under the Code on Access to Information were made in the last quarter, the Home Affairs Bureau says.

Of these, 461 requests for information (86.3%) were met, either in full (454 requests) or in part (seven). Only 10 requests (1.9%) were refused. The remaining 63 included withdrawals by applicants and requests being processed.

This brings the total number of requests received to 13,792 since the introduction of the code in March 1995.

Of these, 12,414 requests (90%) were met, either in full (12,128 requests) or in part (286). Only 254 requests (1.8%) were refused. The remaining 1,124 included referrals to other organisations, withdrawals by applicants and requests being processed.

People who are dissatisfied with a department's response under the code may ask that a more senior officer review the matter.

If, after review, he still thinks that the department has not complied with the code, he can complain to the Ombudsman. No complaints relating to the code had been received in the last quarter.

The bureau said statistics showed that Government departments have been applying the code properly to the general satisfaction of the public.