Statistics on Code on Access to Information for fourth quarter of 2023

2024-07-05 15:00 Last Updated At：17:56

Government receives 2,807 information requests in q4 2023; over 122,000 requests since 1995, 97.1% met, ombudsman handling complaints

The Government received a total of 2 807 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information in the fourth quarter of 2023, a spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said today (July 5).

The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of December 2023 amounted to 122 228. Of these, 7 335 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 6 104 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny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, 2023, 572 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.

Among the 108 217 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 105 040 requests (97.1 per cent) were met, either in full (102 156 requests) or in part (2 884 requests), and 3 177 requests (2.9 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 2023, the Ombudsman received 19 complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 15 complaints, among which two were partially substantiated, 11 were concluded by inquiries (including two cases with inadequacies found), and two were assessed and closed. As at December 31, 2023, the Ombudsman’s investigations on 20 complaints were ongoing.

"The Code has provided an effective framework for the public to seek access to information held by the Government," the spokesman said.

London ETO supports Musicus Society and English Chamber Orchestra's cross-cultural collaboration in UK

2024-07-08 20:10 Last Updated At：20:18

Musicus society's hong kong students shine in london cultural exchange tour with english chamber orchestra, strengthening hk-uk ties

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) supported the Musicus Society's cultural exchange tour in partnership with the English Chamber Orchestra (ECO) from July 3 to 9 (London time).The tour featured nine talented Hong Kong students aged 11 to 17 participating in a series of cultural immersion and enrichment activities in London, the United Kingdom (UK). Activities included a joint string ensemble performance with local students and musicians at St Paul's Church, professional training sessions conducted by the ECO, and visits to prestigious music venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal College of Music Museum.

The Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, welcomed the student delegation on July 4. "It is our great pleasure to facilitate Musicus Society's cultural exchange tour in the UK.The tour not only enriches the music education of our young talent but also strengthens cultural ties between Hong Kong and the UK.Such exchanges highlight Hong Kong's unique East-meets-West fusion, showcasing our city's vibrant cultural landscape.With the boundless talent of our home-grown musicians backed by an international network, Hong Kong is poised to emerge as an international cultural exchange centre, a vision supported by the National 14th Five-Year Plan," he said.

The highlight of the tour was a public concert held at the historic St Paul's Church at Covent Garden, London, in the evening of July 7.The performance featured a joint string ensemble led by the nine Hong Kong students from the Musicus Society alongside 21 local students and musicians. The audience, consisting of nearly 150 guests, enjoyed a captivating programme with iconic compositions from renowned musicians such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Gustav Holst, as well as the theme music of the Hong Kong movie "In the Mood for Love".

The Musicus Society, formed in 2010, is a registered charity in Hong Kong.The Society's mission is to promote cross-cultural collaboration of music internationally through performances and by nurturing the next generation of talent.