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The following is the speech (English only) by the Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mrs Jessie Ting, at the Symposium on Year 2000 Compliance Progress in Hong Kong today (Tuesday):

Mr Tang, ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to address today's symposium. This is the first large-scale symposium dedicated to sharing of information with essential services providers on the progress they have made in achieving Year 2000 compliance.

Government pays high-level attention to the Year 2000 problem which, as it is well-known today, affects not only computer systems but also embedded systems. In taking forward our comprehensive Y2K rectification programme, the foremost consideration is that Government services to the public will not be disrupted. To allow ourselves a comfortable buffer before the new millennium dawns upon us, we have set June 30, 1999 as the target deadline for government departments to achieve Y2K compliance for their mission-critical systems. As of today, more than 82 per cent of Government's mission-critical computer and embedded systems have been either rectified or confirmed to be Y2K compliant. We are monitoring the remaining rectification work very closely to ensure that the tight action schedule is strictly adhered to.

In parallel, through the concerned policy bureaux and departments, we keep a close watch on the corrective work undertaken by non-government organisations, in particular, those providing essential services to the public such as the financial services institutions, the utilities companies and the telecommunications and public transport operators. I am much encouraged to see that good progress has been made in a significant number of our essential services providers. For instance, in the financial services sector, 94 per cent of the banking institutions aim to achieve Year 2000 compliance by the end of 1998. The two power companies, i.e. Hong Kong Electric and China Light and Power, expect to complete their Y2K rectification work by June 1999. And all the major public transport operators, including the MTRC, KCRC and the franchised bus companies, aim to declare Y2K compliance by mid-1999 at the latest.

This is, no doubt, very good news. However, given the inter-dependent nature of modern day businesses, we could not afford to focus only on the rectification work within individual organisations. Failure of a computer or embedded system in one organisation as a result of Y2K non-compliance could have a domino effect on other parties along the supply chain. The effective resolution of the Year 2000 problem must, therefore, encompass seeking confirmation from related parties and business partners on their compliance positions. For this purpose, the exchange of information on Year 2000 readiness is of critical importance.

Government has taken a lead in enhancing the transparency of its Year 2000 readiness. We have, for instance, published the progress of compliance work within Government on the Year 2000 web site. Last month, we published a leaflet which provided the latest compliance position in all essential services sectors in Hong Kong. At the same time, we encourage individual government departments and essential services providers to publish their up-to-date compliance information on their web sites. I am pleased to see that many of these service providers have taken heed. This is a good start and I urge others to follow suit.

Today's symposium is an important initiative to promote information disclosure and sharing on Y2K compliance. I would like to thank those essential services providers who have sent representatives to this seminar to share with us their experience in tackling the Y2K problem. My thanks also go to various supporting organisations, whose efforts and support have contributed to the successful organisation of this symposium.

The Year 2000 problem poses a big challenge to us all. Its satisfactory resolution requires co-operation at all levels and in all sectors. There are only 54 weeks left before the year 2000 arrives. Let's all work together to tackle the Y2K problem so that we can welcome the new millennium with confidence.

Thank you.

End/Tuesday, December 15, 1998

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