Director Shareholding

BHP Billiton Limited
23 December 2002

     BHP Billiton Limited is issuing this announcement to fulfil disclosure
  obligations arising from its secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange.

    The text of this release is identical to that issued by BHP Billiton Plc
                                    earlier.



Issued by:        BHP Billiton Plc

To:               London Stock Exchange
                  Johannesburg Stock Exchange
                  Euronext

Date:             23 December 2002

For Release:      Immediately

Contact:          Ines Watson 020 7747 3976

                     Notification of interests of directors

BHP Billiton Plc announces that, on 20 December 2002, Billiton ESOP Trustee
Limited, as trustee of the Billiton Employee Share Ownership Trust, purchased
60,000 Ordinary shares of US$0.50 each in the capital of BHP Billiton Plc at a
price of ZAR45.6667 per share. BHP Billiton Plc was notified of this transaction
on 23 December 2002.

These transactions were made on behalf of the Billiton Employee Share Ownership
Trust (not any director of BHP Billiton Plc or Relevant Employee subject to the
Company's Securities Dealing Code).

Following the above transactions Messrs B P Gilbertson and C W Goodyear have an
interest in the balance held by the Trust of 441,300 shares as potential
beneficiaries of the Trust.

BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                     BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in Australia                                     Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: 600 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria     Registered Office: 1-3 Strand London WC2N 5HA United Kingdom
3000                                                        Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]
Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]

              The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange   D

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