HKIRC promises com.hk won't crash

A general shutdown that paralysed hundreds, possibly thousands, of Hong Kong-based websites on Monday morning will never happen again, the head of the domain name registrar responsible for the blunder guaranteed on Tuesday.

Jonathan Shea Tat-on, chief executive of Hong Kong Internet Registration Corp (HKIRC), said a malfunction occurred when domain name information was being updated, causing some domain records to disappear in the primary server. This crippled many 'com.hk' websites between 3am and 12pm. Those affected included HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank.

'We can't know exactly how many websites were affected because some domain names are registered but not used. My guess is that it was in the hundreds,' he said. 'But this will never happen again.'

Along with an automated error-detection program, technical staff will from now be assigned to monitor the overnight work everyday. Full-time staff will man a 24-hour hotline for clients.

But critics said it was dangerous to claim any computer system was foolproof.

'Computers are prone to mistakes. Only time will tell if any system is safe,' said Maren Leizaola, director of SARNic, a rival domain name registrar.