Dividend Declaration

HSBC Holdings PLC
26 April 2004

26 April 2004

                               HSBC HOLDINGS PLC

            PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS IN UNITED STATES DOLLARS, STERLING

                              OR HONG KONG DOLLARS


On 1 March 2004, the Directors of HSBC Holdings plc declared a third interim
dividend for 2003 of US$0.24 per ordinary share. The dividend is payable on 5
May 2004 to shareholders on the Principal Register, the Hong Kong Overseas
Branch Register or the Bermuda Overseas Branch Register at close of business on
19 March 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.
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 26 April 2004 (US$1 = HK$7.79695 and £1 = US$1.7802).
Accordingly, the amount payable on 5 May will be:

                US$0.24 per share;

                approximately HK$1.871268 per share; or

                approximately £0.134816 per share.

The dividend payable to holders of American Depositary Shares ('ADSs'), each of
which represents five ordinary shares, will be US$1.20 per ADS. The dividend
will be paid on 5 May 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.

R H Musgrove

Assistant Secretary

HSBC Holdings plc


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