Purchase of Own Securities

British Empire Sec & Gen Tst PLC
15 December 1999


PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES

On 14 December 1999 British Empire Securities and General Trust p.l.c. bought
400,000 of its own ordinary shares for cancellation at a price of 139.50p
each.  There are 184,055,089 ordinary shares in issue following this purchase.



Enquiries:       John Walton, Ivory & Sime Asset Management Limited       
Tel: [phone]