Under Appendix 7 of the Exchange Listing Rules, listed issuers of equity securities or derivative warrants are required to publish in the newspapers notice of the closure of their transfer books or register of members/warrantholders and any subsequent alteration of book closing dates within the time limit specified in the relevant rules. To ensure that the information on the closure of books is properly disseminated to the market through the Exchange's trading system, the Exchange has introduced a provision in the Exchange Listing Rules to require listed issuers to properly notify the Exchange, in writing, of the closure of books and any subsequent alteration of the book closing dates.

The Exchange has also made changes to Practice Note 8 to the Exchange Listing Rules for similar notification requirements with regard to closure of books during a typhoon and/or a black rainstorm warning.

The rule changes will come into effect on 8 August 2000. Reprinted pages of the Exchange Listing Rules will be distributed in due course. The revised rules are available for viewing on the Exchange's website at http://www.sehk.com.hk.

Corporate Communications