Holding(s) in Company

HSBC Holdings PLC
09 May 2005

NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

Section 198 - Companies Act 1985

The Company was notified on 9 May 2005 that Credit Suisse First Boston, through
its subsidiaries listed below, had a notifiable interest as at 5 May 2005 in
672,213,785 ordinary shares of US$0.50 each in HSBC Holdings plc, representing
approximately 5.99% of the ordinary shares in issue.

A copy of the letter of notification is quoted below.

N S Black

Assistant Secretary

HSBC Holdings plc

Letter to HSBC Holdings plc dated 9 May 2005 from Rob Daborn, Vice President,
Equities Compliance, Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) 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 5 May 2005, following disposals, CSFB (as defined
below) holds the following interests in the issued share capital of the Company:

 1. Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited ("CSFBEL"): 32,874,677 shares.
    CSFBEL is interested in 31,280,960 of these shares under section 208(5) of
    the act by virtue of the right to redelivery of equivalent securities under
    stock lending arrangements.
 2. Credit Suisse First Boston International ("CSFBi"): 227,914,242 shares.
 3. Credit Suisse First Boston (Hong Kong) Limited ("CSFBHK"): 410,838,831
    shares.
 4. Credit Suisse First Boston LLC ("CSFBLLC"): 585,385 shares.
 5. Credit Suisse First Boston Capital LLC("CSFBC") 650 shares

CSFB now holds a total interest of 672,213,785 shares being equivalent to
approximately 5.99% of the issued share capital of the Company.

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

Yours faithfully

Rob Daborn

Vice President - Equities Compliance"


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