Chinese people will have a day off on December 31, 1999 to allow for resolving the Y2K problem, according to a notice released today by the General Office of the State Council.

Normally, the official holiday is on January 1, the New Year's Day.

January 1 and 2 of the year 2000 fall on Saturday and Sunday. In order to deal with the millennium bug, the official day off will be shifted to December 31, 1999 from January 1, 2,000, said the notice. Thus Chinese people will enjoy a 3-day holiday from the last day of 1999 to January 2, 2000.

The notice also noted that related departments and localities should keep an eye on the Y2K problems. (Xinhua)