About Us Right to Information

Right to Information

Right to Information Act, 2005

 

The Right to Information under the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 is available to the citizens of India only. RTI Act is an important legislation designed to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities.


The full text of the RTI Act, 2005 is available on the website:
https://rti.gov.in/

 

The RTI Act also provides for appeals by aggrieved persons to the Central Information Commission of the Government of India.

 

Indian citizens resident in Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, People's Republic of China may seek information in writing on payment of requisite fee during office hours on working days as per procedure laid down in the RTI Act, 2005.

 

Name & contact details of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the Consulate General of India, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, People’s Republic of China, designated under the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act, 2005) and that of the First Appellate authority:

 

Public Information Officer

Appellate Authority

Mr. Arvind Kumar Verma
Vice Consul (Culture & Education)
Tel No. +852-39709930 (O)

Fax No. +852-25290421
Email: culture[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

Ms.Satwant Khanalia
Consul General
Tel.No.+852-39709900
Fax No.+852-28664124
E-mail:
cg[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in


The PIO and the Appellate Authority would be available on working days of the Consulate from 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. and can be met with prior appointment in connection with applications under the RTI Act, 2005.

 

As only Indian citizens are entitled to seek information under RTI Act, 2005, a photocopy of applicant’s valid Indian passport showing personal particulars and validity of the passport should be attached with the application.

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA, HONG KONG REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 4(1)(B) OF THE RTI ACT, 2005.


Payment of Fees

 

The application requesting information under RTI Act, 2005 should be accompanied by a receipt for payment of the application fee in Hong Kong Dollars equivalent to the prescribed fee of Indian Rupees ten. The payment can be made at the Accounts Section of the Consulate (16-D, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong) on working days between 9.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. by cash or by demand draft/banker’s cheque in the name of the “Consulate General of India, Hong Kong”. Indian Rupee should be converted into Hong Kong Dollar at the prevailing official rate of exchange which can be ascertained from the Accounts Section of the Consulate (Email: accts[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in).

 

Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO) 

 

The scheme of Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO) has been launched by the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in association with Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). This would enable the Indian citizens abroad to pay the RTI fee online.

An Indian Postal Order can be purchased electronically by paying a fee on-line through e-Post Office Portal or through India Post website. The web-links for payment are:

www.indiapost.gov.in

www.epostoffice.gov.in

 

The Credit Card or Debit Card of any bank powered by Visa/ Master can be used for this purpose.

Procedure

 

The RTI applicant is required to register on the website to create his/ her profile. Then he has to select the Ministry/ Department from whom he desires to seek information under the RTI Act. The eIPO is generated which can be used to seek information from that Ministry/ Department only. A printout of the eIPO is required to be attached with the RTI application sent in hard copy. In case RTI application is filed electronically, the eIPO is enclosed as an attachment. The profile is required to be created during the first time only.

The RTI application accompanied by an eIPO is similar in all respects to the RTI application accompanied by fees through any other approved mode. All the provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions etc; as provided in the RTI Act, 2005 continue to apply.

Currently, this facility is available only for Indian Citizens living anywhere other than in India. By this measure, those living abroad would be facilitated to seek information under the RTI Act, 2005. It is hoped that in future, this facility would be extended to all citizens within the country too. Any public authority which accepts a postal order should also accept an eIPO.

 

Extension of IPO Facility to Indians citizens residing in India

 

The Department of Posts has extended the “eIPO” (electronic Indian Postal Order) service to Indian citizens residing in India also w.e.f. 13.02.2014, for purchasing Indian Postal Order electronically by paying a fee online through e-Post Office Portal i.e. www.epostoffice.gov.in. It can also be accessed through India Post website www.indiapost.gov.in

This facility has been provided for Indian citizens to facilitate them to seek information from the Central Public information Officers (CPIOs) under the RTI Act, 2005. Debit or Credit Cards of any Bank powered by Visa/ Master can be used to purchase e-IPO.

The user needs to get registered at the website. He has to select the Ministry/ Department from whom he desires to seek the information under the RTI Act and the eIPO so generated can be used to seek the information from that Ministry/Department only. A printout of the eIPO is required to be attached with the RTI application. If the RTI application is being filed electronically, eIPO is required to be attached as an attachment.

 

This facility is only for purchasing an Indian Postal Order electronically. All the requirements for filling an RTI application as well as other provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions etc. will continue to apply.

 

An eIPO so generated must be used only once with an RTI application.


Additional Fees

(a) Rupees two for each page (in A-4 or A-3 size paper) created or copied
(b) Actual charge or cost price of a copy in larger size paper
(c) Actual cost or price for samples or models
(d) For inspection of records, no fee for the first hour; and a fee of Rupees five for each subsequent

     hour (or fraction thereof).
(e) For information provided in diskette or floppy, Rupees fifty per diskette or floppy; and
(f)  For information provided in printed form at the price fixed for such publication or Rupees two per

     page of photocopy for extracts from the publication.

 

(i)

Particulars of its organization, functions and duties;

Consulate General of India, Hong Kong is headed by the Consul General and comprises the following Wings: (i) Administration Wing (ii) Consular, Visa & Education Wing (iii) Commerce & Passport Wing (iv) Economic Wing (v) Political, Culture & Information Wing.

Each Wing is headed by a Consul.

The functions of the Consulate inter alia, include political and economic cooperation, trade and investment promotion, cultural interaction, press and media liaison in bilateral and multilateral contexts.

The Consulate functions within the purview of business allocated to the Ministry of External Affairs under the Government of India’s Allocation of Business Rules and Transaction of Business Rules.

(ii)

Powers and duties of its officers and employees;

General Administrative powers are derived from IFS (PLCA) Rules, as amended from time to time.

Financial powers of the Officers of the Consulate have been detailed in the Delegated Financial Powers of the Government of India’s Representatives Abroad.

Other powers are derived from the Passport Act of India.

The Officers of the Consulate function under the guidance and supervision of the Consul General.

(iii)

Procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability;

Decisions are taken under the instruction and supervision of the Consul General.

(iv)

Norms set by it for the discharge of its functions;

Norms are set under the instruction and supervision of the Consul General.

(v)

Rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions;

IFS PLCA Rules and its annexures

Delegated Financial Powers of Government of India’s Representatives Abroad

Passport Act

Manuals on Office Procedures

Other Central Government Rules and Manuals published by Central Government.

(vi)

Statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control;

Classified documents/files relating to India’s external relations.

Unclassified documents/files including joint statements, declarations, agreements and MoUs.

Passport, visa and consular services application forms

(vii)

Particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof;

Consulate General of India functions within the norms of India’s foreign policy formulated by the Ministry of External Affairs. Policy is implemented by the Consulate under the guidance and supervision of the Consul General.

(viii)

Statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public;

Consulate interacts regularly with representatives of think tanks, academic community and others.

(ix)

Directory of its officers and employees;

A directory is given at Annexure-I (See below)

(x)

Monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations;

A statement of monthly remuneration is at

Annexure-II (See below)

(xi)

Budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made;

The Budget figures for the current financial year are given in the statement at Annexure-III (See below)

(xii)

Manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes;

The Consulate does not have any subsidy programme.

(xiii)

Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it;

No concessions/permits are granted by the Consulate General of India.

(xiv)

Details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form;

The Consulate’s website has the required information. The Consulate also makes available to interested individuals various CD’s and DVD’s containing information on India, its people and culture.

(xv)

Particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use;

Citizens of India can obtain information through the website of the Consulate and they can also access the Consulate’s library during working hours.

(xvi)

Names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers;

Mr. Arvind Kumar Verma
Tel No. +852-39709930 (O)

Fax No. +852-25290421 (Fax)
Email:
culture[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

(xvii)

Such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year;

The Consulate’s website has information which is updated on a regular basis

 

 

Annexure I

Telephone List of Officers

 

Name & Designation

Telephone/Fax

Email

Ms. Satwant Khanalia
Consul General

39709911 (O)

2865 4617 (Fax)

cg[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

Mr. K. Venkata Ramana
Consul (Consular)

39709960 (O)

2528 1647 (Fax)

consular[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

Ms. Mandeep Sangha
Consul (Economic)

39709940 (O)

25274916 (Fax)

eco[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

Ms. Renjina Mary Varghese
Consul (Commerce)

39709924(O)

25290421 (Fax)

commerce[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

Mr. Himanshu Gupta
Consul (Press, Information & Culture) & Head of Chancery

39709922 (O)

2865 4624 (Fax)

hoc[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in
pol[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

Mr. Arvind Kumar Verma
Vice Consul (Culture & Education)

39709930 (O)

2866 4124 (Fax)

culture[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

 

Mr. M.A. Salam
Vice Consul (Protocol & Accounts)

39709933 (O)

2866 4124 (Fax)

protocol[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

Ms Shweta Sinha
PS to Consul General

39709913 (O)

2866 4124 (Fax)

cgoffice1[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

 

Annexure II

Monthly Remuneration of India-based Officers and Employees

Sl.No.

Post

No. of Posts

Level as per the 7th CPC

1.

Consul General

1

14

2.

Consul

4

  10 - 13

3.

Vice Consul

1

8 - 10

4.

ASOs

8

7 - 8

5.

Personal Assistant

4

7 - 8

6.

Security Assistant

1

3


Note: Apart from basic pay, officers/employees are paid Foreign Allowance which is fixed by the Ministry of External Affairs from time to time.

 

Annexure III

 

Budget utilization during Financial Year 2022-2023:-

 

Chancery

Commerce

Budget allocation during FY 2022-23 (Rs. in thousands only)

212822

21792

Expenditure during FY 2022-23 (Rs. in thousands only)

214108

21286

 

List of regular CPIO & FAAs from 01.01.2015

Sl. No.

Name of CPIO

Period

Name of FAA

1

Mr. Bharat Kumar Kuthati, Consul (PIC)

01.01.15-16.04.15

Mr. Prashant Agarwal, Consul General

2

Mrs. Hema Rana, Vice Consul

17.04.15-16.07.15

Mr. Prashant Agarwal, Consul General

3

Mr. Karun Bansal, Consul (CPM)

17.07.15-06.04.16

Mr. Prashant Agarwal, Consul General

4

Mr. Karun Bansal, Consul (CPM)

07.04.16-22.09.16

Mr. Ravi Sinha,Acting Consul General

5

Mr. Karun Bansal, Consul (CPM)

23.09.16-28.05.18

Mr. Puneet Agrawal, Consul General

6

Mr. Narayan Singh, Consul (HOC, Edu. & Culture)

29.05.18-10.06.18

Mr. Puneet Agrawal, Consul General

7

Mr. Ajith John Joshua, Consul (CPM)

11.06.18-09.07.18

Mr. Puneet Agrawal, Consul General

8

Mr. Narayan Singh, Consul (HOC, Edu. & Culture)

10.07.18-29.07.18

Mr. Puneet Agrawal, Consul General

9

Mr. Ajith John Joshua, Consul (CPM)

30.07.18-31.01.19

Mr. Puneet Agrawal, Consul General

10.

Mr. Ajith John Joshua, Consul (CPM)

01.02.19-08.05.19

Mrs. Mrinalini Srivastava, Acting Consul General

11.

Mr. Ajith John Joshua, Consul (CPM)

09.05.19- 26.11.20

Mrs. Priyanka Chauhan, Consul General

12.

Mrs. Deepika Mishra, Consul (HOC)

27.11.20–27.01.21

Mrs. Priyanka Chauhan, Consul General

13.

Mr. Ajith John Joshua, Consul (CPM)

28.01.21-13.07.21

Mrs. Priyanka Chauhan, Consul General

14.

Ms. Priyanka Mehtani, Consul (CPM)

14.07.21-24.06.22

Mrs. Priyanka Chauhan, Consul General

15.

Ms. Priyanka Mehtani, Consul (CPM)

25.06.22-12.08.22

Vacant

16.

Ms. Priyanka Mehtani, Consul (CPM)

13.08.22-18.08.22

Ms. Satwant Khanalia, Consul General

17.

Ms. Renjina Mary Varghese, Consul (PIC)

19.08.22-02.08.23

Ms. Satwant Khanalia, Consul General

18.

Mr. Himanshu Gupta, Consul (PIC & HOC)

03.08.23-16.08.24

Ms. Satwant Khanalia, Consul General

19.

Mr. Arvind Kumar Verma, Vice Consul (Culture & Education)

19.08.24-till date

Ms. Satwant Khanalia, Consul General

 

Whenever regular CPIO/FAA is on leave, link officer is assigned the duty of CPIO/FAA.