Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx) will introduce BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited (BOC) Futures and Options on Monday, 17 March 2003.

Contract months of the BOC Futures and Options available for trading on 17 March 2003 will be March, April, May, June and September 2003.

Meanwhile, due to low market activities, trading of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (CPC) Futures and Options will be gradually suspended after the market close on 27 February 2003. Immediately after the market close on 27 February 2003, no new contract months and/or series for CPC Futures and Options will be introduced for trading.

All outstanding positions in the March, April, June and September 2003 CPC Futures will be traded until the expiration of the respective contract months or until all outstanding positions in any contract month are closed, whichever occurs first. The trading of contract month(s) without outstanding positions after market close on 27 February 2003 will be suspended with immediate effect.

All existing CPC Options series in the expiry months of March, April, June and September 2003 will remain available for trading until expiration.

Investors can visit HKEx's website at http://www.hkex.com.hk/ for more information on stock futures and stock options.