Advertisement to Trace 'Lost' Shareholders

HSBC Hldgs PLC
30 March 2000

The following is the text of an advertisement to inform former
shareholders of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Limited, who under the Scheme of Arrangement dated 1 February
1991 were deemed to be untraceable, of their right to claim
shares in HSBC Holdings plc. This advertisement will appear in
the 'Financial Times' (in the UK) and in the 'Hong Kong Standard'
and 'Hong Kong Economic Times' (in HK) on Friday, 31 March.


Notice to Former Shareholders of The Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Limited

Scheme of Arrangement
Pursuant to a Scheme of Arrangement between The Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited ('the Bank') and its
shareholders ('the Scheme'), which became effective on 2 April
1991, HSBC Holdings plc ('HSBC Holdings') acquired the entire
issued share capital of the Bank. Shares in HSBC Holdings were
issued in exchange for shares in the Bank and certificates
were mailed to shareholders on 6 April 1991.

The Trust
The Ordinary Shares in HSBC Holdings which would otherwise
have been allotted to the Bank's shareholders who were 
'untraceable' (as defined in the Scheme) were allotted under
the terms of the Scheme to Coutts (Jersey) Limited (formerly
NatWest International Trust Corporation (Jersey) Limited)
('Coutts') in accordance with the terms of a Trust Deed dated
1 February 1991 between HSBC Holdings and Coutts. Pursuant to
the terms of the Trust Deed, the HSBC Holdings shares in
respect of which claims had not been received were sold on 13
May 1997 and the proceeds invested pending receipt of claims.
By virtue of a Deed of Retirement and Appointment of Trustee
dated 9 August 1999, Coutts retired as trustee of the trust
created by the Trust Deed and was replaced by Royal Bank of
Canada Trust Company (Jersey) Limited ('the Trustee').

Claims
Any person who believes he or she is entitled to the proceeds
from the sale of HSBC Holdings shares issued in exchange for
the Bank's shares under the Scheme (and any other property
held by the Trustee with respect to or derived from such
shares) and who has not received the relevant share
certificates or proceeds should address a claim to the
Exchange Agent, Central Registration Hong Kong Limited, Rooms
1901-5, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong (who
has been appointed by the Trustee for the purpose of receiving
and processing such claims) enclosing (wherever possible)
certificates for the appropriate number of the Bank's shares.



For and on behalf of                            31 March 2000
HSBC Holdings plc
R G Barber
Group Company Secretary

HSBC Holdings plc
Incorporated in England with limited liability. 
Registered in England: number 617987 
Registered Office and Group Head Office: 
10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6AE, United Kingdom