Holding in Company

HSBC Holdings PLC
22 May 2001

Letter to Company Announcements Office

Section 198 - Companies Act 1985

The Company was notified today that Barclays PLC, through its subsidiary
Barclays Bank PLC, had a notifiable interest as at 21 May 2001 in 361,011,143
ordinary shares of US$0.50 each in HSBC Holdings plc, representing
approximately 3.86% of the ordinary shares in issue.

A copy of the letter of notification, including a list of the registered
holders of the shares where known, is quoted below.


Letter from P A Stafford
Senior Assistant Secretary
HSBC Holdings plc
22 May 2001



Letter to HSBC Holdings plc

Companies Act 1985 ('The Act') - Part VI

I hereby inform you that as of the date of this letter Barclays PLC, through
its subsidiary Barclays Bank PLC, has a notifiable interest in the capital of
your Company of 3.86%.

Details of this interest, together with a breakdown between registered holders
(as required by Section 202(3) of the Act), are set out on the attached
schedule.

The issued capital of 9,332,679,082 is the latest figure available to us. If
this is incorrect please let me know.

If you have any questions arising from this letter, please contact me on 020
7699 2305.


Letter from Sarah Waine
Head of Secretarial Services
Group Corporate Secretariat
Barclays
21 May 2001



Barclays Bank PLC - Registered Holders Analysis

HSBC HLDGS          Sedol Number: 540528

As at 21/5/2001 Barclays PLC, through its subsidiary Barclays Bank PLC, had a
notifiable interest in 361,011,143 ORD USD0.50 (UK REG) units representing
3.86% of the issued share capital of 9332679082 units.
Registered Holder                                                     Holding
MSTC Nominees Ltd                                                    240,772
MSTC Nominees Ltd                                                    770,995
Barclays Capital Nominees Limited                                    5,021,125
Bank of Ireland Nominees Limited                        289175       112,364
Bank of Ireland Nominees Limited                        73520        909,107
Dematerialised                                                       38,170
Chase Nominees Limited                                  16331        3,432,732
Chase Nominees Limited                                  16338        453,957
Chase Nominees Limited                                  16341        8,946,151
Chase Nominees Limited                                  16342        849,304
Chase Nominees Limited                                  16344        475,584
Chase Nominees Limited                                  16345        838,458
Chase Nominees Limited                                  16376        1,403,317
Chase Nominees Limited                                  16400        87,341,122
Chase Nominees Limited                                  16530        21,073,929
Chase Nominees Limited                                  18408        909,153
Chase Nominees Limited                                  20947        14,911,132
DEM69                                                                200,734
Barclays Bank Trust Co Ltd & third party nominee                     15,143
Barclays Bank Trust Co Ltd as executor                               347,598
*** Unknown ***                                                      11,334
Zeban Nominees Limited                                               1,500
Phildrew Nominees Limited                                            380,000
Barclays Bank Trust Co Ltd - IMA                                     21,887
Twenty Nine Gracechurch Street Nominees Limited a/c                  48,597,809
5781C
Twenty-Nine Gracechurch Street Nominees Limited Account              311,394
5781C
Chase Manhattan Bank                                                 971,457
Chase Nominees Ltd A/C Lend 16201                                    393,902
Chase Nominees Ltd A/C BGIOMNI 19688                                 1,323,919
*** Unknown ***                                                      24,163
Investors Bank & Trust Company                                       299,341
*** Unknown ***                                                      7,536,994
*** Unknown ***                                                      4,030,479
*** Unknown ***                                                      69,005
*** Unknown ***                                                      328,608
*** Unknown ***                                                      88,196
*** Unknown ***                                                      164,727
*** Unknown ***                                                      167,739
*** Unknown ***                                                      31,500
Barclays Bank Trust Co Ltd and another                               6,753
Barclays Capital Securities Limited                                  146,888,589
Nutraco Nominees Limited                                             1,071,000
                                                               Total 361,011,143