Public urged to get prepared for roll over to Year 2000
November 9, 1999
A month-long roving exhibition to enhance public understanding of the Y2K readiness of essential service providers in Hong Kong kicks off today (Tuesday).
At the launching ceremony held at the Times Square, Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mrs Jessie Ting, said the objective of the publicity drive was to inform the public of the latest compliance positions of essential service providers and to advise the public of points to note to prepare for a smooth and orderly rollover to year 2000.
She said that the Global 2000 Co-ordinating Group, which comprises about 500 international financial institutions, had ranked Hong Kong as one of the six best-prepared among 49 major economies in terms of overall Y2K readiness.
"The credit should go to all Government bureaux and departments as well as essential service providers which have made considerable efforts over the past few years to tackle the Y2K problem," she said.
But Mrs Ting said that there was no room for complacency. "In addition to undertaking rectification work, the essential service providers in Hong Kong have drawn up comprehensive contingency plans in order to minimise the risks posed by the Y2K problem."
"The Government has also formulated a territory-wide monitoring and co-ordination mechanism to facilitate prompt responses to any unforeseen Y2K-induced incidents during the rollover to Y2K critical dates," she added.
Noting that most local businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the Government has appealed to them to tackle the Y2K problem in a timely manner in order to safeguard the continuity of their core businesses.
"Once again, I urge SMEs to complete their Y2K compliance work well ahead of the year end," Mrs Ting added.
Mrs Ting also invited the general public to make necessary preparation for a hitchless rollover to year 2000. In particular, she reminded the public that as 31 December 1999 will be a general holiday, they should plan ahead.
The exhibition will travel to nine major commercial arcades throughout the territory. The venues and the dates of the exhibition are :
| Times Square covered piazza |
November 9 - 11 |
| Grand Century Place, 3/F, Mong Kok |
November 12 - 13 |
| Queensway Plaza, adjacent to the footbridge to the Pacific Place |
November 14 - 16 |
| Dragon Centre, Shamshuipo |
November 17 - 18 |
| Maritime Square, G/F, Tsing Yi |
November 19 - 21 |
| Shopping Arcade, Kwong Tin Estate, Lam Tin |
November 25 - 28 |
| Shopping Arcade, Yiu Tung Estate, Shau Kei Wan |
November 30 - December 2 |
| New Town Plaza, Shatin Phase III, Level 1 Atrium Gallery |
December 3 - 5 |
| Shopping Estate, Kwong Fuk Estate, Tai Po |
December 6 - 8 |
To coincide with the roving exhibition, the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau has published a guide to advise the public of the Y2K readiness of various essential service sectors.
Entitled "The Y2K Almanac", the guide covers "Home", "Personal Finances", "Health" and "Transport".
It offers tips on do's and don'ts in preparation for the millennium date change so that the community as a whole can achieve a smooth transition to year 2000.
Copies of the Almanac are obtainable at all district offices of the Home Affairs Department, supermarket chains, banks and customer service offices of KCR stations.
The Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau has also produced a new API for broadcast on radio and television starting from 9 November.
- ENDS -
|