Comprehensive plans in place to tackle Y2K

November 18, 1998

The inter-departmental Steering Committee on Year 2000 Compliance, chaired by the Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, has taken a three-pronged approach to tackle the problem in a co-ordinated and comprehensive way, namely co-ordination of the compliance work within Government, monitoring of progress of compliance work in non-government organisations which provide essential services to the public, and promotion of awareness of the problem and provision of guidance on a community-wide basis.

This was stated by a spokesman for the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau when responding to the Director of Audit's comments on the work of the Administration in addressing the Y2K problem, published in his Audit Review today (Wednesday).

The spokesman pointed out that many of the findings of the study conducted by the Audit Commission had been overtaken by events since the establishment of the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau.

Nevertheless, he welcomed the study which was useful to the Year 2000 work of the Administration. He added that most of the recommendations contained in the report had indeed been covered in the action agenda of the Steering Committee.

"Efforts to rectify the Y2K problem within Government had started before the establishment of the Steering Committee," he explained. "Since 1996, the Information Technology Services Department has been actively promoting awareness of the problem within Government through various channels.

"In addition, the Information Technology Services Deparrtment, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department have been providing technical assistance to affected bureaux and departments in their rectification work.

"The establishment of the Steering Committee in March 1998 has enabled the rectification work within Government to be taken forward in a more co-ordinated manner. It has also resulted in a more focused approach to promoting awareness and understanding of the Year 2000 problem on a community-wide basis," he added.

The spokesman said each Government department had developed a Year 2000 compliance plan and an action timetable. All departments are required to submit compliance reports to the Steering Committee on a quarterly basis.

As of September 1998, over 80 per cent of Government's critical computer and embedded systems have been confirmed to be Y2K compliant or rectified.

"We have set 30 June 1999 as the target date for Government departments to complete the rectification work for all mission-critical systems," the spokesman said, adding that the frequency of progress reports would increase to once a month as from January next year.

The Steering Committee also monitors rectification work in non-government organisations which provide essential services to the public through the relevant policy bureaux and departments.

The spokesman noted that steady progress had been made and he expected corrective measures to be completed in good time in essential services sectors such as financial services, power supplies, telecommunications, transport and public health.

To promote awareness of the Year 2000 problem on a community-wide basis, the Government has organised a series of publicity activities, including distribution of publicity materials, TV and radio broadcasts, provision of information and guidance through a dedicated Year 2000 web site for Hong Kong (http://www.year2000.gov.hk) and appeals to major trade and professional organisations to urge their members to take early rectification action.

It is also working closely with the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) to provide assistance to small and medium sized enterprises in solving the problem.

According to a survey conducted by HKPC in September this year, over 98 per cent of the enterprises in Hong Kong are aware of the Y2K problem. About 57 per cent are affected by the problem, of which two-thirds are taking action to tackle it before the new millennium arrives. Of the enterprises taking action, 75 per cent expect to complete their rectification work by mid 1999.

This is a marked improvement over the situation revealed in a similar survey by the HKPC last year, the spokesman said.

He stressed that the Government would continue to promote awareness of the Y2K problem on a community-wide basis and to urge everyone concerned to take early rectification action.

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