23Offence to reveal confidential information

### 23 Offence to reveal confidential information > > (1)  A person who obtains or receives information in the course of or as a result of a protected disclosure or the investigation of a disclosed matter under this Act must not disclose that information except for the purposes of – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 23 Subsection (1) amended by No. 68 of 2009, s. 14, Applied:01 Oct 2010\]*](/view/html/inforce/2010-10-01/act-2009-068#GS14@EN) [*\[Section 23 Subsection (1) amended by No. 1 of 2016, Sched. 1, Applied:08 Apr 2016\]*](/view/html/inforce/2016-04-08/act-2016-001#JS1@Ja4@GC3@EN) the exercise of the functions under this Act of the President of the Legislative Council, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Ombudsman, the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, the Integrity Commission or a public body; or > > > > > > > (b) any report or recommendation to be made under this Act; or > > > > > > > (c) any report referred to in [Part 9](#HP9@EN) ; or > > > > > > > (ca) [*\[Section 23 Subsection (1) amended by No. 4 of 2021, s. 26, Applied:01 Mar 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-03-01/act-2021-004#GS26@EN) the exercise of the functions of a Commission under the [Commissions of Inquiry Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-070) ; or > > > > > > > (d) any proceedings in relation to an offence against [section 54](#GS54@EN) or [87](#GS87@EN) or this section or in relation to [section 27 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-070#GS27@EN) [Commissions of Inquiry Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-070) . > > > > Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 60 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both. > > > (2)  The Ombudsman or a public body must not in a report or recommendation under this Act or a report referred to in [Part 9](#HP9@EN) disclose particulars likely to lead to the identification of a person who made a protected disclosure. > > > (3)  The Ombudsman or a public body must not in a report referred to in [Part 9](#HP9@EN) disclose particulars likely to lead to the identification of a person against whom a protected disclosure is made.