FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1994
IN
STEERING GROUP ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION SET UP
RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (FRIDAY) SAID WORK ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CODE OF PRACTICE ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION HAD ALREADY STARTED.
A STEERING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS HAS BEEN SET UP. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY AND HEAD, EFFICIENCY UNIT ARE REPRESENTED THE STEERING GROUP.
UNDER
ON
THE
A DEDICATED PROJECT TEAM HAS BEEN SET UP TO WORK STEERING GROUP. THE TEAM WILL DEVELOP THE DETAILS OF THE CODE IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND BRANCHES.
ON
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND BRANCHES HAVE ALREADY BEEN BRIEFED OBJECTIVES OF THE CODE AND IN BROAD TERMS ON WHAT THE CODE WILL
THE CONTAIN.
INFORMATION
THE TEAM IS NOW STUDYING ACCESS TO OPERATION ELSEWHERE, AND WILL BE CONSULTING WIDELY WITHIN ON THE DETAILED REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CODE.
REGIMES IN GOVERNMENT
OF
AS PART OF THIS CONSULTATIVE PROCESS, THE TEAM WILL IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS AND BRANCHES REPRESENTING A CROSS-SECTION GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES FOR THE PILOT SCHEME.
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE A RIGHT OF ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION.
BY
THE FREEDOM TO "SEEK" AND "RECEIVE" INFORMATION RECOGNISED ARTICLE 16 OF THAT ORDINANCE IS A FREEDOM TO SEEK AND RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM THOSE WILLING TO GIVE IT.
IT I'S DESIGNED TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE IN THE FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION BETWEEN WILLING PARTICIPANTS.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THIS INTERPRETATION WAS SUPPORTED BY RULINGS OF THE EUROPEAN COURT,
PERSON FROM
·WILLING TO A POSITIVE
THESE HAD CONFIRMED THAT THE RIGHT TO THE FREEDOM ΤΟ RECEIVE INFORMATION PROHIBITED A GOVERNMENT FROM RESTRICTING A RECEIVING INFORMATION THAT OTHERS WISHED TO OR MIGHT BE IMPART TO HIM BUT DID NOT PLACE ON THE GOVERNMENT OBLIGATION TO GIVE INFORMATION.
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