Asian policy coordinators for the Y2K problem concluded their two-day meeting Tuesday in Tokyo with a pledge to continue efforts to accelerate their preparations for contingencies that the millennium glitch might trigger at the turn of the century.
The Y2K glitch refers to problems computers might cause during the transition from 1999 to 2000. Since many computers are programmed to read only the last two digits when recognizing years, they may interpret 2000 as 1900, resulting in erroneous data or system malfunctions.
During the third Y2K Asian regional meeting held Monday and Tuesday at the Foreign Ministry under the auspices of the United Nations, 22 coordinators from 22 Asian countries discussed contingency plans, crisis management and sector-by-sector preparations in telecommunications, aviation, health care, energy and other industries.
At the end of the meeting, participants adopted a set of resolutions that call for further efforts to provide maximum credible information about national Y2K preparations to reinforce public confidence, chairman Amable Aguiluz of the Philippines said at a news conference.
They also agreed to continue sharing information among themselves and with the International Y2K Cooperation Center, and facilitate proper channels for sector-by-sector communications, Aguiluz said.
IYCC director Bruce McConnell said potential disruptions of social infrastructure might be local and limited, since overall Asia's Y2K preparations are gradually improving.
In a separate two-day session focusing on the energy sector, experts agreed to build an information network by the end of next month via e-mail to exchange information on a contingency scheme to deal with the Y2K bug, Japanese officials said.
During the meeting, 12 Asian economies agreed to select by mid-October one or two experts in their own regions to be responsible for contacting each other via the network from late October through April to prevent catastrophe, they said.