New Hong Kong Banknotes

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the three note-issuing banks (Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Standard Chartered Bank and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) today (Sunday) announced that the new series of HK$100 and HK$500 banknotes will be put into circulation from 15 December 2003.

The new HK$100 and HK$500 banknotes will be available for exchange in all branches of the three note-issuing banks starting from 15 December 2003. New notes for the remaining three denominations of HK$20, HK$50 and HK$1,000 will go into circulation in the second half of 2004. All existing banknotes will continue to be legal tender and to circulate along with the new banknotes.

Leaflets explaining and illustrating the new security features of the new banknotes are available to the public from the branches of the three note-issuing banks and the HKMA. Posters showing the new security features will be displayed at branches. The information is also available on the HKMA website at www.hkma.gov.hk.

For further enquiries please contact:

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Kevin Ip, Manager (Press), at 2878 1687
Thomas Chan, Senior Manager (Press), at 2878 1480

Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited
Ms Angel Yip, Deputy Head of Corporate Communications Division, at 2826 6159
Ms Clarina Man, Deputy General Manager, at 2826 6175

Standard Chartered Bank
Barbara So, Senior Corporate Affairs Manager, at 2820 3085
Avis Kong, Senior Corporate Affairs Manager, at 2820 3009

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Vinh Tran, Manager External Relations, at 2822 4924

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
30 November 2003