Smooth rollover to February 29

February 29, 2000

Following the rollover to February 29, 2000, essential services in the territory have continued to function smoothly.

Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting who is also the controller of the Government's Y2K Central Coordinating Centre (CCC), Mrs Jessie Ting, said this (Tuesday) morning,"Hong Kong has entered February 29, 2000 without any disruptions in the provision of critical public services. The CCC will continue to closely monitor the territory-wide rollover situation through regular reports from the 13 sector-wide coordinating centres."

These 13 essential service sectors are aviation, broadcasting, energy supply, environment, fire and emergency services, financial services, food supply, border control, port management, public health, public order, telecommunications and transport.

Mrs Ting pointed out that both Government and the essential services providers had put in place comprehensive contingency arrangements to ensure a prompt response to any unforeseen Y2K-induced system failures. "With these well-tested contingency arrangements, the risk that Hong Kong will be adversely affected by the Y2K problem during the rollover to February 29 is minimal," she said.

Small and medium-sized businesses experiencing Y2K-related problems with their computers, which fail to recognise 2000 as a leap year, can contact the Hong Kong Productivity Council for assistance. The Council is operating a 24-hour-hotline (2788 6060) to answer enquiries on Y2K-related matters.

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