The intake of FOI legislation in China

According to the statistics from the General Office of the State Council, until August 31, 2006, there are more than 80 laws and regulations contain provisions relating to freedom of information. 12 provinces and 16 comparatively larger cities[1] have published their FOI local regulations or rules, 25 ministries or departments directly under the State Council promulgated their regulations or documents on open government affairs.[2] To mention that, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passed its FOI legislation in 1995, Taiwan followed it after ten years on 28 December 2005.
[1] According to Article 63 of the Legislation Law 2000, the people’s congresses or their standing committees of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and the comparatively larger cities may formulate local regulations. A comparatively larger city refers to a city where a provincial or autonomous regional people’s government is located or where a special economic zone is located, or a city approved as such by the State Council.
[2] Gov.cn, Strengthening the Legislation Work of Freedom of Information (2006) <>at 16 March 2007."> " title="permanent link">#