Holding(s) in Company

HSBC Holdings PLC
27 August 2004


NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

Section 198 - Companies Act 1985

The Company was notified yesterday that Credit Suisse First Boston, through its
subsidiaries listed below, had a notifiable interest as at 24 August 2004 in
419,492,040 ordinary shares of US$0.50 each in HSBC Holdings plc, representing
approximately 3.78% of the ordinary shares in issue.

A copy of the letter of notification, is quoted below.

N Black
Assistant Secretary
HSBC Holdings plc

Letter to HSBC Holdings plc dated 26 August 2004 from Daniel Sturrock, Director
- Legal and Compliance, Credit Suisse First Boston International

"Dear Sirs

HSBC Holdings plc (the "Company")

This notification relates to the ordinary shares of the Company (the "shares")
and is given in fulfilment of the obligations imposed under Section 198 of the
Companies Act 1985 (the "Act").

We hereby notify you that on 24 August 2004, following acquisitions, CSFB (as
defined below) holds the following interests in the issued share capital of the
Company:

 1. Credit Suisse First Boston Equities Limited ("CSFBEq"): 41,626,844 shares.
    This includes 2,383,037 shares in which CSFBEq is interested by virtue of
    the right to redelivery of equivalent securities under stock lending
    arrangements.

 2. Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited ("CSFBEL"): 7,121,300 shares.
    CSFBEL is interested in these shares by virtue of the right to redelivery of
    equivalent securities under stock lending arrangements.

 3. Credit Suisse First Boston International ("CSFBi): 137,173,133 shares.

 4. Credit Suisse First Boston (Hong Kong) Limited ("CSFBHK"): 233,169,263
    shares.

 5. Credit Suisse First Boston LLC ("CSFBLLC"): 401,500 shares.

CSFB now holds a total interest of 419,492,040 being equivalent to approximately
3.78% of the issued share capital of the Company.

CSFBEq, CSFBi, CSFBHK, CSFBLLC, and CSFBEL are members of the Credit Suisse
First Boston group of companies ("CSFB"). Those group companies which are direct
or indirect holding companies of CSFBEq, CSFBi, CSFBHK, CSFBLLC, and CSFBEL are
each interested by attribution in any shares in which CSFBEq, CSFBi, CSFBHK,
CSFBLLC, and CSFBEL are interested.


Yours faithfully



Daniel Sturrock
Director - Legal and Compliance"



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