Holding(s) in Company

HSBC Holdings PLC
10 August 2004


NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

Section 198 - Companies Act 1985

The Company was notified yesterday that Credit Suisse First Boston through its
subsidiaries listed below, had a notifiable interest as at 4 August 2004 in
334,775,311 ordinary shares of US$0.50 each in HSBC Holdings plc, representing
approximately 3.01% of the ordinary shares in issue.

A copy of the letter of notification, is quoted below.

N Black

Assistant Secretary

HSBC Holdings plc



Letter to HSBC Holdings plc dated 9 August 2004 from Andrew Veasey, Vice
President - Legal and Compliance, Credit Suisse First Boston Equities Limited

"Dear Sirs

HSBC Holdings plc (the "Company")

This notification relates to the ordinary shares of the Company (the "shares")
and is given in fulfilment of the obligations imposed under Section 198 of the
Companies Act 1985 (the "Act").

We hereby notify you that on 4 August 2004, following acquisitions, CSFB (as
defined below) holds the following interests in the issued share capital of the
Company:

 1. Credit Suisse First Boston Equities Limited ("CSFBEq"): 7,557,161 shares.
    This includes 781,670 shares in which CSFBEq is interested by virtue of the
    right to redelivery of equivalent securities under stock lending
    arrangements.

 2. Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited ("CSFBEL"): 4,809,653 shares.
    CSFBEL is interested in these shares by virtue of the right to redelivery of
    equivalent securities under stock lending arrangements.

 3. Credit Suisse First Boston International ("CSFBi): 79,212,459 shares.

 4. Credit Suisse First Boston (Hong Kong) Limited ("CSFBHK"): 242,680,038
    shares.

 5. Credit Suisse First Boston LLC ("CSFBLLC"): 516,000 shares.


CSFB now holds a total interest of 334,775,311 being equivalent to approximately
3.01% of the issued share capital of the Company.

CSFBEq, CSFBi, CSFBHK, CSFBLLC, and CSFBEL are members of the Credit Suisse
First Boston group of companies ("CSFB"). Those group companies which are direct
or indirect holding companies of CSFBEq, CSFBi, CSFBHK, CSFBLLC, and CSFBEL are
each interested by attribution in any shares in which CSFBEq, CSFBi, CSFBHK ,
CSFBLLC, and CSFBEL are interested.


Yours faithfully



Andrew Veasey

Vice President - Legal and Compliance"



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