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Systems ready for 2000 rollover


All sorted: ACP IS Peter Halliday demonstrates the readiness of Force systems

Computer experts will enhance efforts to curb any Year 2000 system bugs during the New Year rollover period, such as by liaison with countries several hours ahead.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Information Systems) Peter Halliday said the operation of Y2K task forces and the Technical Y2K Command Centre proved efficient and effective on the highly Y2K-sensitive date of September 9 and no Y2K-related incidents were reported.
However, he said additional measures would also be taken on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to ensure a smooth transition.
They included:
  • an hourly health check programme for each computer and communications system;
  • the set up of a central computer centre in Police Headquarters with terminals from over 13 different systems for centralised monitoring and problem tackling;
  • alternative communication channels;
  • full backup of data in all major systems;
  • non-mission-critical systems which are only used during office hours will be switched off before the rollover period to reduce Y2K risk and switched on again on January 1 for checks to ensure normal operation on January 3, the first working day of 2000;
  • exchange of status information with countries in time zones ahead of Hong Kong, such as New Zealand and Japan, to obtain early warning of probable Y2K problems; and,
  • freezing all system enhancements in the run-up to 2000 after compliance is achieved, and holding non-essential system enhancements except urgent bug-fix and ad-hoc modification to align with new Government regulations.
    Mr Halliday said Police would use the Technical Y2K Command Centre at PHQ to monitor the operation of all mission-critical systems and report their status to the Government's Y2K Centre.
    "Over 80 technical experts will be stationed at the Command Centre to perform round-the-clock duty, and hourly check results will be submitted to the Government's Y2K Centre," Mr Halliday said.





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