The business hours of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx) and its subsidiaries, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Futures Exchange and Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company, have been changed to 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, effective 2 October 2000. Offices will be closed on Saturdays.

However, telephone hotline staff from the Clearing Business Unit will continue to be available between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays (except public holidays) to answer enquiries. The hotlines are:

• Investor Service Enquiry Hotline: 2979 7000

• CCASS Phone Operations Hotline (for CCASS Investor Participants): 2979 7888

• CCASS Hotline (for CCASS Participants other than Investor Participants): 2852 8000