Purchase of Own Shares, etc

BRITISH EMPIRE SECURITIES & GENERAL TRUST PLC
14 July 1999


PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES

On 14 July 1999 British Empire Securities and General Trust p.l.c. bought
800,000 of its own ordinary shares for cancellation at a price of 136p each. 
This will result in a small uplift in the net asset value per share which has
increased by 40 per cent since the start of the Company's financial year on 1
October 1998.  There are 188,555,089 ordinary shares in issue following this
purchase.

Enquiries:       John Walton
 Tel:  [phone]