Summary Report on Hungarys state of readiness in respect of the year 2000 problems

(July 1999)

For the Government of the Republic of Hungary the undisturbed operation of the economy and society is a matter of the first priority which the Government will ensure in all circumstances. To this end the Government has approved an Action Program in respect of the year 2000 problems, has appointed a government commissioner, and through a dedicated body monitors the preparation of the public sector and the national economy.

The probability of significant disturbances occurring as a result of the year 2000 date changeover in Hungary is small. Naturally other reasons too might interrupt the normal flow of everyday life and nobody can guarantee with absolute security that all systems affected by the date change have been made compliant. In the same manner the possibility of a temporary interruption of some services around the 31st of December 1999 can not be excluded with absolute certainty, but this interruption, if any will most probably be limited both in area and time. On the whole, there are no signs indicating the possibility of a countrywide crises.

Energy:

The preparation of the energy sector is satisfactory. There is a guaranteed quantity of electric energy available, at the same time capacities are in reserve if needed. The state of readiness of the service providers (including the national grids) is similar.

The Russian partner provided written guarantee on the uninterrupted gas supply, Hungary however is prepared for temporary interruption too.

The country has several months reserve from oil derivatives, disturbance is not expected.

Water

Water supply systems relay on technologies where the year 2000 problems might be critical in a very small extent only, that is, are very moderately dependent, so the risk too is low.

Telecommunications

Based on the initiative of the Hungarian Telecommunications Co. an operative committee was established which monitors the preparation. Telecommunication service providers are in the testing stage. There is no cause to expect higher than usual in the service problems in the telecommunication services.

Finance

The business companies providing financial services are preparing for the date change within a very strict reporting system as a part of which they must each prepare a business continuity plan. The bank of issue has made preparations to handle higher than average cash demands.

The state disbursement systems (pension, sickness allowance, social subsidies) tax systems (tax refund), treasury system are in partly in remediation, partly in the final testing stage.

Health care

The preparation of the health care institutions is monitored by the central operative committee established at the Department. the assessment of the affectedness of the health care institutions has been completed, the scope of equipment that needs to be made compliant or replaced is known. Part of the required resources will be made financed form the World Bank grant made available to the Republic of Hungary.

There are medicine reserves sufficient for several months, supply problems will not occur.

Transport

No problems are expect in rail traffic. The air transport systems have been made compliant, testing has been completed and there is no sign of potential risks. Road transport is not dependent.

State administration organisations

The big database (e.g. census, vehicle inventory, etc) will not pose problems.

Local governments

Data will be available on the systems used by the local governments in September.

Citizens

The citizens in general are aware of the date change problem. The population is not concerned in general, considering the problem solvable till the end of the year and thus, not serious. people do not plan significant changes in their everyday life.

Dependence form other countries

Hungary is significantly dependent from the neighbouring countries and those farther away in several sectors(e.g. the export of machine industry products, import of oil derivatives, etc.) As a result of the level of reserves and sectoral co-operation there are no additional risks in connection with the year 2000 date change resulting from cross-border matters.

Preparation for contingencies

The possibility of the interruption of production or disturbance of the normal flow of everyday life is always present (just remember this years snow and flood problems). State administration has an established system for handling such disruptions, contingencies, this system is prepared for the date change too. During the critical period a central control point will be in operation in a state of readiness.

Business ventures have to prepare on their own for the occurrence of disturbances. The Departments and county security committees monitor the contingency planning and preparation of the organisations that are critical for the national economy. Do not forget, that disturbances can occur at any time, and to prepare for such contingency with a business continuity plan is the basic interest of all organisations.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 09, 1999

Answers

Git,

Think we oughta send Zsa Zsa back to slap some sense into 'em?

-- flora (***@__._), September 09, 1999.

waitaminute....Hungary is still a country?...AND has computers?....

-- Billy-Boy (Rakkasn@Yahoo.com), September 09, 1999.