Non-Executive Director

HSBC Holdings PLC
31 December 2001

                            NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Charles Miller Smith, aged 62, has today resigned as a non-executive director
of HSBC Holdings plc.

Mr Miller Smith was appointed a non-executive director of HSBC Holdings plc on
22 March 1996. He was a member of the Group Audit Committee from 1 January
2001 to 31 December 2001.

From January 1994 to May 1996 Mr Miller Smith served as a non-executive
director of HSBC Bank plc.

Note to editors:

HSBC Holdings plc

With some 6,500 offices in 78 countries and territories and assets of US$692
billion at 30 June 2001, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and
financial services organisations.