Initial Y2K reports from Asia Pacific today would seem to bode well for the rest of the world.
As the millennium date change rolled over, the word from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea was universally positive. In fact, there was not a single report of a significant Y2K-related problem from any of these locales.
Here in the U.S., experts monitoring the situation continue to express great confidence in the preparedness levels of major IT infrastructures and there is a palpably growing belief that midnight will pass without major incident. However, those same experts warn of the need to remain vigilant this evening, and, in particular, on Monday as Americans return to their places of business.
With the first of Australia's three time zones well into the New Year, officials at the National Coordination Center in Canberra say no Y2K computer problem-related glitches had been reported, according to the national Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). The major cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra passed into the New Year at 1 p.m. GMT.
The state of South Australia passed into the New Year 30 minutes later and neither the power utilities or the police reported any problems, ABC says.
The New Zealand Y2K Readiness Commission reported a problem-free rollover at its 2 a.m. briefing. Twelve out of 12 sectors monitored in New Zealand continue to report no Y2K-related interruptions, says Basil Logan, chairman of the New Zealand Y2K Readiness Commission.
"We are pleased with this continuation of good performance since our 1 a.m. briefing," Logan says. "All monitoring systems connecting us to all key sectors and essential services are working smoothly." The Commission submits its reports to the Washington-based International Y2K Cooperation Center as part of a worldwide initiative to share the burden of the Y2K problem.
RELATED LINKS
