China entered the year 2000 free from the bite of Y2K problems in major sectors, according to the China Y2K Problem Contingency Office.

By 6:00 this morning, the Office has received safe transition reports from 54 government institutes and 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomic regions.

China's Qinshan and Daya Bay nuclear plants eased into 2000 without any effects from the millennium computer bug.

Two planes carrying senior aviation officials in the air, as 1999 passed into 2000, landed safely after midnight, one in Beijing and the other in Haikou.

Other sectors of the country's 20 major fields, which are thought to be sensitive to the bug, including civil aviation, power grid, maritime transportation, banking and securities services, as well as public security and state security departments, reported sound computer operation.

But some cities did report a small problem on some taximeters which showed no signs during the transition and added that they are investigating for reasons.

Zhang Qi, official in charge of the national Y2K problem, warned that all departments should remain alert in case anything unexpected happens when all computers are restarted on January 3, the first working day after the New Year holidays.

Some problems might not emerge until well into the new year, from February 28 to 29, and from February 29 to March 1, for leap year transition, she added.