Dividend Declaration

HSBC Holdings PLC
27 September 2004



                               HSBC HOLDINGS PLC

            PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS IN UNITED STATES DOLLARS, STERLING

                              OR HONG KONG DOLLARS

On 2 August 2004, the Directors of HSBC Holdings plc declared a second interim
dividend for 2004 of US$0.13 per ordinary share. The dividend is payable on 6
October 2004 to shareholders on the Principal Register, the Hong Kong Overseas
Branch Register or the Bermuda Overseas Branch Register at close of business on
20 August 2004 in cash in United States dollars, sterling or Hong Kong dollars,
or a combination of these currencies and with a scrip dividend alternative.

In the absence of instructions to the contrary, shareholders on the Principal
Register will automatically receive dividends in sterling. However, if
shareholders have an address in the United States they will automatically
receive any dividend payable in United States dollars unless they currently
receive payment in one of the other currencies or make an election to do so. In
the absence of instructions to the contrary, shareholders on the Hong Kong
Overseas Branch Register and the Bermuda Overseas Branch Register will
automatically receive dividends in Hong Kong dollars and United States dollars
respectively.

Dividends payable in cash in sterling or Hong Kong dollars will be converted
from United States dollars at the forward exchange rates quoted by HSBC Bank plc
in London at 11.00 am on 27 September 2004 (US$1 = HK$7.79825 and £1 =
US$1.80455). Accordingly, the amount payable on 6 October will be:


                US$0.13 per share;

                approximately HK$1.0137725 per share; or

                approximately £0.07204 per share.

The dividend payable to holders of American Depositary Shares ('ADSs'), each of
which represents five ordinary shares, will be US$0.65 per ADS. The dividend
will be paid on 6 October 2004 in cash in United States dollars or in new shares
to those who have elected to receive the scrip dividend alternative. The cash
dividend for participants in the dividend reinvestment plan, operated by the
depositary, will be invested in additional ADSs.



Nicola Black

Assistant Secretary

HSBC Holdings plc




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