136,165,605 ordinary shares of US$0.50 each have been issued by HSBC Holdings plc to shareholders who elected to receive the scrip dividend alternative for the fourth interim dividend for 2007, payable on 7 May 2008. The shares rank pari passu with the existing issued ordinary shares of the Company.

Net income attributable to common shares was C$155 million for the quarter ended 31 March 2008, an increase of 11.5 per cent over the same period in 2007.

During the reporting period, the operating income of the Group was RMB5,552.258 million, representing an increase of RMB1,774.371 million, or 47.0%, as compared with the corresponding period last year. Net profit attributable to the Shareholders was RMB1,490.528 million, representing an increase of RMB789.861 million, or 112.7%, as compared with the corresponding period last year.

The balance of cash of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of the period increased by approximately 80% over the beginning of the period. This was mainly due to the cash inflow from financing activities such as borrowings and sale and lease back. (2) Notes receivable for the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of the period decreased by approximately 92%

Reference is made to the announcement and circular of the Company dated 12 May 2005 and 19 May 2005 respectively in relation to, amongst others, the Continuing Connected Transactions in respect of agreements for the provision of goods and/or services between certain members of the CEA Holding Group and the Group. The Company has, in view of the expiration of the agreements relating to the Continuing Connected Transactions, entered into respective agreements relating to the Continuing Connected Transactions. It is the Company’s intention to finance the Renewed Continuing Connected Transactions through its internal resources.

On 17 March 2008, the Board of the Company approved the bidding by the Company in an open tender process on the China Beijing Equity Exchange to acquire certain equity interests in five aluminum fabrication plants and one primary aluminum production plant. Currently, the Board has submitted relevant proposals to the extraordinary general meeting to be convened on 9 May 2008 for consideration and approval and the relevant announcemen of the general meeting and circular were disclosed on 25 March 2008. Upon approval in the general meeting, the Company will participate in bidding on the China Beijing Equity Exchange.

During the reporting period, in accordance with IFRSs, revenues of the Group was RMB23,788 million (for the three months ended 31 March 2007: RMB18,489 million), representing an increase of 28.7%. Profit for the period attributable to shareholders of the Company was RMB6,772 million (for the three months ended 31March 2007: RMB4,919 million), representing an increase of 37.7%. During the reporting period, changes in major items of the financial statements and explanation thereof are as follows:

Datang International Power Generation Co., Ltd. (the “Company”) announces that, based on the Company’s preliminary statistics, as of 31 March 2008, the total power generation of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) for the first quarter of 2008 amounted to 29.306 billion kWh, an increase of 6.45% when compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The Group’s total on-grid power generation was 27.561 billion kWh, an increase of 6.24% when compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Pursuant to Rule 13.43 of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, there will be a meeting of the Directors of HSBC Holdings plc on Tuesday, 6 May 2008 to consider the declaration of the first interim dividend for 2008.

1. Mainly because of investing in construction projects and repaying the debts, the cash as at the end of the reporting period decreased by 55.86%, compared to the beginning of the reporting period.
2. Mainly because of the increase in value of coal inventories, the inventories as at the end of the reporting period increased by 30.20% compared to the beginning of the reporting period.
3. Mainly because of investing in construction projects, the construction materials as at the end of the reporting period increased by 40.27% compared to the beginning of the reporting period.
4. The notes payable as at the end of the reporting period were reduced by 100% to zero, as all notes payable were due and settled accordingly as at balance sheet date.