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AS RELEASED AT 2100hrs ON 31/12/99 GMC4
Millennium celebrations are in full swing around the world and there have been no bug problems reported.
UK
Crowds are enjoying the many Millennium celebrations across the country, including the 22 cities and towns in the UK that have received National Lottery funding.
Culture Secretary Chris Smith had a busy morning and afternoon opening Millennium Festival events and meeting those participating. All events are attracting increasing numbers of visitors from the UK and overseas.
Prince Andrew has been visiting a number of events in London including attended a children''s workshop where he made flowers with the children.
There have been no Millennium Bug problems reported today in the UK.
The Civil Contingencies Committee has met under the chairmanship of the Home Secretary Jack Straw. Reports were received from Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff who said there were no problems. The Department of Health reported that health services are coping, although it is going to be a busy night. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said there were no problems with shops and food and the Ministry of Defence reported no problems. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said that they had not received any reports of significant problems from their overseas posts and the Treasury had received no reports of problems with the financial sector.
INTERNATIONAL
There have been no obvious Millennium Bug problems in the countries that have passed the date change.
As expected, access to some mobile telephone networks has been slow due to extremely heavy usage.
The following countries have entered the new Millennium since the last bulletin at 1800hrs.
CHINA
Initial reporting from the British Embassy in Peking and from the Consulate in Shanghai indicates no Y2K problems. Telephones, electricity and water are working as normal in the Peking and Shanghai areas as at 0100 local time on 1 January.
The British Consulate has reported no Y2K problems in Hong Kong. There are however difficulties with the mobile phone network due to heavy usage.
SOUTH KOREA
Initial reporting from the British Embassy in Seoul suggests that there appears to be no Y2K problems or disruption to utilities in South Korea.
TAIWAN
Initial reporting from Taipei suggests that there appears to be no Y2K problems or disruption to utilities in the Taipei area.
SINGAPORE
Initial reporting from the British High Commission in Singapore suggests that there appears to be no Y2K problems or disruption to utilities in Singapore.
MALAYSIA
British High Commission reports no apparent disruption to utilities (including telephones) in Kuala Lumpur. There is however heavy traffic throughout the city.
BRUNEI
Initial reports from the British High Commission in Brunei indicate no Y2K problems. Mobile phone networks are congested but problems are mainly due to over-use. All utilities and reserves are functioning as normal.
MANILA
Initial reporting from the British Embassy in Manila and the Consulate in Cebu indicates no Y2K problems. All local utilities (including the airport and hospital) are functioning as normal.
Issued by the Government Millennium Centre, 70 Whitehall, London. http://www.millennium-centre.gov.uk
