Dividend Notification Payment

HSBC Hldgs PLC
19 April 2000


                    HSBC HOLDINGS PLC
 PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS IN UNITED STATES DOLLARS, STERLING
                  OR HONG KONG DOLLARS

On 28 February 2000, the Directors of HSBC Holdings plc
declared a second interim dividend for 1999 of US$0.207
per ordinary share. The dividend is payable on 27 April
2000 to shareholders on the Principal Register or Hong
Kong Overseas Branch Register at close of business on 17
March 2000 in cash in US dollars, sterling or Hong Kong
dollars or a combination of these currencies and with a
scrip dividend alternative. In the absence of
instructions or elections to the contrary, Shareholders
on the Principal Register will automatically receive
dividends in sterling and Shareholders on the Hong Kong
Overseas Branch Register will automatically receive
dividends in Hong Kong dollars.

Dividends payable in cash in sterling or Hong Kong
dollars have been converted from United States dollars at
the forward exchange rates quoted by HSBC Bank plc in
London at 11 am on 18 April 2000 (US$1 = HK$7.7883 and £1
= US$1.58463). Accordingly, the amount payable on 27
April 2000 will be:

         US$0.207 per share;
         approximately HK$1.6121781 per share or;
         approximately £0.1306299 per share.