Despite some alarmist predictions of Y2K computer breakdowns in unprepared Asian countries, there have been few signs of panic or hoarding, though air traffic will be substantially reduced this evening and tomorrow in China, Hong Kong, Tokyo and other cities.
The US Central Intelligence Agency has listed China among the countries most vulnerable to Y2K troubles, partly because of its heavy reliance on pirated software, but Beijing insists that it can cope with any emergencies which might arise.
While there may be power cuts and other service failures when computers mistake 2000 for 1900 at midnight tonight, leading to errors or system failures, the almost apocalyptic predictions that a nuclear missile might be activated or a nuclear power station malfunction have been discounted by analysts.
Most foreign embassies in Beijing have sent non-essential staff and dependants home for the new year period - a popular move - and equipped remaining officials with emergency rations and satellite telephones.
The US embassy in Beijing has advised Americans to have at least $2,000 in cash in case banks and ATMs stop dispensing money because of the Y2K bug. This may be needed if stores in Chinese cities refuse credit card sales over the next few days, as widely expected.
Banks will be closed today and tomorrow and China has brought forward its new year holiday to today, to help computer engineers make last-minute adjustments, and many problems may not show up until staff return on Monday.
But there has been no panic buying by the population and stocks of essential supplies such as torches and tinned foods are still plentiful in Beijing shops.
In October Mr Lawrence Gershwin, the CIA official in charge of science and technology, told the US Congress that "we do not see a problem in terms of Russian or Chinese missiles automatically being launched, or nuclear weapons going off, because of computer problems arising from Y2K failures". He added, however: "Beijing will fail to solve many of its Y2K problems in the limited time remaining, and will probably experience failures in key sectors such as telecommunications, electric power and banking."
The Chinese State Power Corporation insists power supplies will be unaffected and China Telecom said yesterday its land lines and mobile phones will work normally. US high technology consultancy IDC has said that despite China's relative lack of preparedness, disruption is likely to be minimal.
Executives from China's main airline, Air China, will pilot a passenger aircraft this evening to underline confidence in the air traffic system. Mr Wang Lian and Mr Zhang Fugui will personally take control of a flight this evening from Beijing to the southern town of Shenzhen and back tomorrow. China Eastern will also have a top executive on a flight spanning midnight from Shanghai to Bei jing. Chinese ports will be closed to foreign shipping this weekend.
Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department said yesterday it expected a smooth transition for air traffic control during the rollover into the new millennium. With passengers shy of travelling today or tomorrow, airlines have cancelled at least 210 flights in and out of Hong Kong around the new year.
Twenty-four airlines have cancelled 172 passenger and 38 cargo flights between Thursday and Monday at Chek Lap Kok Airport. Hong Kong's top carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, has scrapped 78, or 18 per cent, of its total schedule.
In Japan the danger of travel disasters is being taken very seriously. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, the two largest Japanese air carriers, will suspend all their flights between Japan and Europe departing late today. Several major rail companies including East Japan Railway plan to stop trains at nearby stations briefly around Friday midnight.
In Tokyo, banks are keeping extra staff on during the weekend - about 5,000 Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi officials will work from today to Monday - to reassure customers and print out data from computers which might crash.