ENG-1994 — Page 408

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

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A high-level delegation comprising business and government representatives travelled to the USA for the promotion, led by the Chief Secretary.

Special events were organised in conjunction with the XV Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada in August, in which Hong Kong participated for the last time. They included the first dragon boat races held in Victoria and a Hong Kong Day reception.

In November, the Governor, the Right Honourable Christopher Patten, made his first official visit to the U.S. West Coast cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. Included in his programme were major speaking engagements and meetings with leading government officials, businessmen, academics and the media.

Japan

Hong Kong's Dragon Boat Festival appeared for the first time in eastern Japan in May when the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo co-sponsored races in Yokohama with the Yokohama City Government and the Yokohama Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The festival was part of the Hong Kong Government's efforts to further develop cultural ties with Japan.

The Governor also made an official visit to Tokyo in December for the 17th joint plenary session of the Hong Kong Japan/Japan Hong Kong Business Co-operation Committee. During the visit, he had meetings with senior Japanese government ministers and the business community.

Code of Practice on Access to Information

The authorities subscribe to the principle of an open and accountable government. This requires reasonable access to official information. The government announced in June a plan to develop and promulgate an administrative code of practice on access to government information. The code will be implemented throughout the government in phases, starting with a pilot scheme in a cross-section of branches and departments in 1995.

The code will set out clearly the types of government information to which the public will have access, and the means by which a member of the public can access such information. It will also list categories of exemption to ensure appropriate confidentiality of sensitive information held by the government, as well as information involving personal privacy and commercial sensitivity.

The public will be able to complain to the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints about government departments which fail to respond to requests for information in accordance with the code. The code will represent a major step in meeting public expec- tations of greater transparency from the government.

Data Protection

Technological developments that facilitate the easy collection, holding, pro essing and transfer of vast amounts of personal data pose a special threat to the privacy of the individual. In addition, there is a growing risk that jurisdictions which already have laws providing for protection of privacy with respect to personal data, will impose restrictions on transfers of personal data to jurisdictions without adequate personal data protection. Such interference in personal data transfers to Hong Kong could have adverse economic implications, particularly in the services sector.