Hong Kong Futures Exchange Announces Revised Margins For Hkex Futures Contracts After Capital Adjustment

Hong Kong Futures Exchange Limited (HKFE), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx), announced that with effect from the commencement of trading on Wednesday, 24 March 2004, the minimum margins to be collected by an Exchange Participant from its clients in respect of their dealings in the following futures contracts will be as outlined in the table below. The adjustments are based on the clearing company's normal procedures and standard margining methodology.

Please see the 18 March 2004 HKEx news release, Arrangements for Adjustment of Futures and Options on Shares of HKEx, for details of the capital adjustment of HKEx Futures.

For the current margins, please refer to the HKEx website (http://www.hkex.com.hk) and see Trading Information - Futures & Options in the Derivatives Market section.

Futures Contracts	Margin Rate	Initial Margin	Maintenance Margin
		(HK$)	(HK$)
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd.	Full Rate Spread Rate	3,680 per lot 552 /lot/side	2,944 per lot 441.6 /lot/side

HKFE emphasised that the above are minimum rates and Exchange Participants should set their margin requirements according to their clients' individual circumstances.