Contract Between HK Govt /Pfizer/ Sinovac (Revisited 2024)
Dear Department of Health/ Stephen Lowe,
Back in February 2022, I asked that the contract between the HK Govt and Pfizer & Sinovac regarding the Covid 19 vaccinations be made public for full transparency. This was declined at the time. Now, two years later with much information coming to light, especially with the release of the South African government's contract with Pfizer, I request, that the relevant contracts be released.
Yours faithfully,
Allyson van de Pol
Dear Allyson,
We have today received your application dated 4 Feb 2024 seeking access to
information relating to the contracts between the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region Government and Pfizer and Sinovac regarding the
supply of the COVID-19 vaccines.
As we are unable to provide you with the information sought at this stage,
pursuant to paragraph 1.16 of the Code, you will be advised further in
relation to your request on or before 23 Feb 2024. Should you have any
questions in the meantime, please contact me at 2125 2215.
Stephen Lowe
for Director of Health
Dear Allyson,
Thank you for your application dated 4 Feb 2024 seeking access to
information relating to the contracts between the Government of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region and the COVID-19 vaccine suppliers.
After careful consideration of your application, we regret to inform you
that we are unable to provide the information requested for the reason set
out in paragraph 2.16 of the Code on Access to Information, which covers
information including commercial, financial, scientific or technical
confidences, trade secrets or intellectual property the disclosure of
which would harm the competitive or financial position of any person. In
this case, we consider that the public interest in disclosure of the
information requested does not outweigh any harm to the competitive or
financial position of the vaccine suppliers concerned.
You may ask the department to review the decision by writing to Deputy
Director of Health at 21st Floor, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East,
Hong Kong if you are not satisfied with the above decision.
Alternatively, you may complain to The Ombudsman, whose address is –
Office of The Ombudsman, Hong Kong
30/F, China Merchants Tower,
Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong
Complaint Hotline：2629 0555
Fax：2882 8149
Stephen Lowe
for Director of Health
