PRESS RELEASE

(Source : Government Information Centre)

Interest on Tax Reserve Certificates

*******************************************

The Government Gazette published today (March 4) contains a Legal Notice to the effect that the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury has authorised a change in the rate of interest payable on Tax Reserve Certificates. From March 7, 2005, the new annual rate of interest will be 0.2000% as against the current rate of 0.1250%, that is, the new rate will be $0.0166 per month per $100.

Tax Reserve Certificates bear simple interest and interest is calculated monthly (including part of a month) from the date of purchase to the date of payment of tax.

Interest is only credited when certificates are used to pay tax and no interest is due where the principal value of a certificate is repaid to its holder.

The rate of interest payable on Tax Reserve Certificates is periodically revised in line with market trends. Currently, it is reviewed every month based on the average prevailing six-month time deposit interest rates for $100,000 offered by the three note-issuing banks.

The new rate will apply to all certificates purchased on or after March 7, 2005. Certificates which were purchased before March 7, 2005 will continue to earn interest at the rates prevailing on their respective purchase dates. More interest rate information can be found in the Inland Revenue Department website, www.ird.gov.hk. The public can also obtain a copy of Tax Reserve Certificate Interest Rate Table from the 24-hour information hotline 1878033. What follows is a summary of the interest rates for the past months:

* for certificates purchased on or after March 1, 2004 and before May 3, 2004,

0.0100% per annum

* for certificates purchased on or after May 3, 2004 and before June 7, 2004,

0.0171% per annum

* for certificates purchased on or after June 7, 2004 and before September 6, 2004,

0.0500% per annum

* for certificates purchased on or after September 6, 2004 and before October 4, 2004,

0.1500% per annum

* for certificates purchased on or after October 4, 2004 and before December 6, 2004,

0.2500% per annum

* for certificates purchased on or after December 6, 2004 and before March 7, 2005,

0.1250% per annum

* for certificates purchased on or after March 7, 2005 until further notice,

0.2000% per annum

This is always subject to the general rule that interest ceases to accrue after 36 complete months.

Ends/Friday, March 4, 2005

NNNN