HSBC Hldgs Interim Dividend

HSBC Holdings PLC
08 November 2004


              HSBC HOLDINGS PLC - THIRD INTERIM DIVIDEND FOR 2004

In accordance with its policy of paying quarterly dividends in a pattern of
three equal dividends with a variable fourth interim dividend, and as envisaged
in the announcement of the 2004 Interim Results on 2 August 2004, the Board of
HSBC Holdings plc has declared a third interim dividend of US$0.13 per ordinary
share in respect of the year to 31 December 2004. The dividend will be payable
on 20 January 2005 to shareholders on the Register on 26 November 2004. The
ordinary shares will be quoted ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong and Bermuda on
24 November 2004 and in Paris on 29 November 2004. The American Depositary
Shares will be quoted ex-dividend in New York on 23 November 2004.

Payment on Ordinary Shares

The third interim dividend will be payable on 20 January 2005 in cash in US
dollars, or in sterling or Hong Kong dollars, or a combination of these
currencies, at the forward exchange rates quoted by HSBC Bank plc in London at
or about 11.00 am on 10 January 2005, and with a scrip dividend alternative.
Particulars of these arrangements will be mailed to shareholders on or about 7
December 2004, and elections will be required to be made by 5 January 2005.

Any person who has acquired shares registered on the Principal Register in the
United Kingdom but who has not lodged the share transfer with the Principal
Registrar should do so before 4.00 pm on Friday 26 November 2004 in order to
receive the dividend.

The Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register of shareholders will be closed for one
day, on Friday 26 November 2004. Any person who has acquired shares registered
on that Branch Register but who has not lodged the share transfer with the Hong
Kong Branch Registrar should do so before 4.00 pm on Thursday 25 November 2004
in order to receive the dividend. Transfers may not be made to or from the Hong
Kong Overseas Branch Register while that Branch Register is closed.

Any person who has acquired shares registered on the Bermuda Overseas Branch
Register of shareholders but who has not lodged the share transfer with the
Bermuda Branch Registrar should do so before 4.00 pm on Friday 26 November 2004
in order to receive the dividend.

Payment on shares held through Euroclear France

The dividend will be payable on shares held through Euroclear France, the
settlement and central depositary system for Euronext Paris, on 20 January 2005
to the holders of record on 26 November 2004. The dividend will be payable in
cash, in euros at the exchange rate on 10 January 2005, or as a scrip dividend.
Particulars of these arrangements will be announced through Euronext Paris on 24
November and 1 December 2004.

Payment on American Depositary Shares

The dividend will be payable on American Depositary Shares, each of which
represents five ordinary shares, on 20 January 2005 to holders of record on 26
November 2004. The dividend of US$0.65 per American Depositary Share will be
payable in cash in US dollars or as a scrip dividend of new American Depositary
Shares. Particulars of these arrangements will be mailed to holders on or about
6 December 2004, and elections will be required to be made by 27 December 2004.
Alternatively, the cash dividend may be invested in additional American
Depositary Shares for participants in the dividend reinvestment plan operated by
the depositary.

Any person who has acquired American Depositary Shares but who has not lodged
the transfer documentation with the depositary should do so before 12 noon on
Friday 26 November 2004 in order to receive the dividend.

FINAL RESULTS AND FOURTH INTERIM DIVIDEND FOR 2004

As indicated in the announcement of the 2004 Interim Results, the results for
the year to 31 December 2004 will be announced on Monday 28 February 2005. It is
intended that any fourth interim dividend for 2004 that is announced on that
date would be payable on 4 May 2005 to shareholders on the Register on 18 March
2005. HSBC Holdings' shares would be quoted ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong and
Bermuda on 16 March 2005 and in Paris on 21 March 2005. The American Depositary
Shares would be quoted ex-dividend in New York on 16 March 2005.

The Directors of HSBC Holdings plc are Sir John Bond, Baroness Dunn*, Sir Brian
Moffat^, S K Green, A W Jebson, W F Aldinger, Lord Butler^, R K F Ch'ien^, D G
Eldon, R A Fairhead^, D J Flint, W K L Fung^, M F Geoghegan, S Hintze^, Sir John
Kemp-Welch^, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart^, S W Newton^, H Sohmen*, C S Taylor^ and Sir
Brian Williamson^.

* Non-executive Director
^ Independent non-executive Director

Note to editors:

The HSBC Group

HSBC Holdings plc is headquartered in the UK. The HSBC Group serves over 110
million customers worldwide from approximately 10,000 offices in 76 countries
and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle
East and Africa. With assets of US$1,154 billion at 30 June 2004, HSBC is one of
the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is
marketed worldwide as 'the world's local bank'.


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