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SCMP Reporter

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) has set up a Y2K D-Day centre to provide immediate consultancy and 24-hour support services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the public during the millennium roll-over period.

 The support centre, which began operating yesterday, features a 24-hour hotline. It has 30 lines open to public enquiries.

 On December 31, telephones will be manned by up to 100 staff, and additional lines will be added if necessary, HKPC executive director Thomas Tang said.

 In addition, 20 computer experts will help with enquiries, he said.

 Mr Tang said a public announcement of reported Y2K problems would be made after midnight on January 1 and then repeated on January 3.

 The HKPC and Government's Y2K question-and-answer Web sites also will be updated after the new year to address unanticipated problems.

 Mr Tang said the HKPC would send experts to help companies deal with Y2K problems if needed.

 He said the council had so far helped 1,700 SMEs attain Y2K compliance and would continue to contact the companies to monitor their status.

 The HKPC's principal information technology consultant Roy Ko Wai-tak said there were more than 150,000 active SMEs in Hong Kong, most of which used personal computers, but he said it was difficult to assess how many used them for mission-critical purposes.

 An HKPC survey of 3,014 SMEs conducted in June found that 75 per cent had already tested their equipment for Y2K troubles, while 20 per cent would not make any preparation.

 Mr Ko warned that as the year 2000 was a leap year, February 29 could also be a critical date, as older computers and certain machines automatically went into March 1 from February 28.

 The number of the hotline is 2788 6060.

 As a contigency measure, three mobile-phone numbers (9029 5055; 9866 9069 and 9835 5134) in different networks will also be available for enquiries.



Support centre opens lines of communication