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The Industry Department today (Monday) announced that 58 Participating Lending Institutions(PLIs) had signed the supplemental deed to join the revised Special Finance Scheme for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Hong Kong.

"It is very encouraging that the Scheme has received continuous support from so many lending institutions," said a spokesman for the Department.

"We shall continue to monitor the performance of the Scheme and the effects of the revision," added the spokesman.

The Scheme was launched in August 1998 and revised in May 1999. Under the new agreement, the risk-sharing ratio between the Government and the Participating Lending Institutions is 70 to 30 and the maximum guarantee period is two years.

The 58 lending institutions are:

* Argentaria, Caja Postal Y Banco Hipotecario, S.A.

* Banca Commerciale Italiana Societa

* Bangkok Bank Public Company Ltd

* Bank of China

* Bank of India

* Belgian Bank

* The China State Bank Ltd

* Chiyu Banking Corporation Ltd

* Citibank, N.A.

* CITIC Ka Wah Bank Ltd

* Dao Heng Bank

* First Pacific Bank Limited

* The Fuji Bank Ltd

* Hang Seng Bank Ltd

* The Bank of East Asia Ltd

* The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation

* The Hong Kong Chinese Bank Ltd

* International Bank of Asia

* Jian Sing Bank Ltd

* Kincheng Banking Corporation

* Korea Exchange Bank

* Liu Chong Hing Bank Ltd

* Nanyang Commercial Bank Ltd

* Overseas Trust Bank Ltd

* Po Sang Bank Limited

* Shanghai Commercial Bank Ltd

* Sin Hua Bank Ltd

* UCO Bank

* Union Bank of Hong Kong Ltd

* United Chinese Bank Ltd

* Wayfoong Finance Ltd

* Wing Hang Bank, Ltd

* Wing Lung Bank Ltd

* Allied Capital Resources Ltd

* Citicorp Commercial Finance (H.K.) Limited

* East Asia Finance Company Ltd

* Emirates Bank International

* Hang Seng Finance Ltd

* ORIX Asia Ltd

* Pacific Finance (HK) Ltd

* SPC Credit Ltd

* Avco Financial Services (Asia) Ltd

* Bali International Finance Ltd

* Commonwealth Finance Corporation Ltd

* Cosmos Finance Ltd

* Delta Asia Credit Ltd

* Dharmala International Finance Ltd

* East Asia Credit Company Ltd

* Edward Wong Credit Ltd

* Hang Seng Credit Ltd

* IBA Credit Ltd

* Inchroy Credit Corporation Ltd

* Ka Wah International Merchant Finance Ltd

* Liu Chong Hing Finance Ltd

* Orient First Capital Ltd

* Sin Hua Finance Company Ltd

* Wayfoong Credit Ltd

* Wing Hang Finance Company Ltd

End/Monday, May 24, 1999

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