Peter Berry to Become Chairman in May

Martin Currie Portfolio Inv Tst PLC
14 December 1999


                 Martin Currie Portfolio Investment Trust plc

                   * Appointment of Peter Berry as chairman

Martin Currie Portfolio Investment Trust plc, the £390 million generalist
investment trust for the private investor, is pleased to announce that Peter
Berry will become chairman of the trust in succession to Sir John Kemp-Welch.
Sir John will retire at the conclusion of the trust's AGM in May 2000.

Mr Berry is 55, joined the board of Scottish Eastern Investment Trust plc in
1995 and continued as a director of Martin Currie Portfolio in March 1999. At
the same time, he joined the board of Martin Currie Capital Return Trust plc.
He is executive chairman of The Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and
Administrations. He is also a non-executive director of Henderson TR Pacific
Investment Trust plc and Kier Group plc.

Sir John was appointed to the board of Scottish Eastern in 1993, and became
chairman in the following year. Following the reconstruction of Scottish
Eastern in March 1999, he became chairman of the successor trust, Martin
Currie Portfolio.

Commenting on his retirement, Sir John said: 'It has been a great privilege to
serve first Scottish Eastern and then Martin Currie Portfolio. Martin Currie
Portfolio is, I am convinced, an ideal vehicle for long-term private investors
in equity markets worldwide.  I am very pleased to be handing over to an
excellent chairman in Peter Berry, and I know that he and the board are wholly
committed to ensuring the future success of the trust.'

For further information, please contact:

Eric McAuslan
Martin Currie Investment Management Ltd      0131 479 4603
e-mail                                       [e-mail]

Fiona Harris
Biddick Harris                               0171 539 5757
e-mail                                       [e-mail]