TNAG-2863-FCO40-4117-Article-XIX-(lobby-group-for-press-freedom)-and-Hong-Kong-Jo-1993 — Page 3

2) ACCESS TO INFORMATION

This area of the government review is the most disappointing to the HKJA. We regret the administration's conclusion that freedom of information legislation is inappropriate for Hong Kong, and maintain that the government's proposal to use administrative means to give the public greater accesS will not make a significant difference to the ability of the public to seek government information.

In our view, there is a clear need to create a system which is non-discretionary, with uniformity of procedure and channels of redress for those who are denied access to information.

We believe strongly that access of information legislation is the

best way to achieve the above

above objectives. We are therefore disappointed that the government has failed to adopt the legislative approach to access to information. I t has not even considered partial legislation, for example a a British law the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 - which guarantees

to documents tabled at public meetings and background papers related to these documents, subject to certain exceptions.

We note that the Law Reform Commission's privacy sub-committee

has proposed a legislative approach to access to personal information. We support this approach, and note that the legislative approach to access to government information is similar in nature. Indeed, several common law jurisdictions have single laws dealing with access to government and personal information.

is

The HKJA is disappointed that the government at this stage prepared only to allow access to information provided by an individual about him or herself, and not information the government has collected about that individual.

We find this situation highly unsatisfactory, in that individuals would in most cases be interested to view and correct information about themselves which has been provided by other agencies. We hope the government will move rapidly to ensure full access to all types of personal information.

ADDRESS: 6/F, DIAMOND MANSION,

462 LOCKHART ROAD, HONG KONG

:香港洛克道462號鑽石大廈六字樓

TEL/5910692

0X60 /FAX: 5727329

GPO BOX: 11726 香港郵政總局信箱一一七二六號

Affiliated to the International Federation of Journalists

本會為國際記者聯會成員