Director Shareholding

BHP Billiton Limited
31 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:      30 December 2002

For Release:      Immediately

Contact:      Ines Watson 020 7747 3976



                     Notification of interests of directors



BHP Billiton Plc announces the following transactions made by Billiton ESOP
Trustee Limited, as trustee of the Billiton Employee Share Ownership Trust, in
Ordinary shares of US$0.50 in BHP Billiton Plc. BHP Billiton Plc was notified of
these transactions on 30 December 2002.


        Date of              Type of              Number of      Price per
        Transaction          Transaction          Shares         Share


        27 December 2002     Sale                 8,150          ZAR 45.4377

        27 December 2002     Transfer             11,903             n/a


These transactions were made on behalf of a beneficiary of the Company's
Restricted Share Scheme and Co-Investment Plan (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 421,247 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


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