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The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the three note-issuing banks (Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) today (October 10) announced that the remaining three denominations, $20, $50 and $1,000, of the new series of Hong Kong banknotes will be put into circulation from October 11 2004.

The new $20, $50 and $1,000 banknotes will be available for exchange in all branches of the three note-issuing banks starting from October 11 2004. The first two denominations of the new series, $100 and $500, have been in circulation since December 2003. All existing banknotes will continue to be legal tender and will circulate alongside the new banknotes.

Leaflets explaining and illustrating the new security features of the new banknotes are available to the public from the branches of the three note-issuing banks and the HKMA. Posters showing the new security features are in display at branches. The information is also available on the HKMA website at http://www.hkma.gov.hk, and the websites of the three note-issuing banks at http://www.bochk.com, http://www.standardchartered.com.hk and http://www.hsbc.com.hk.

The HKMA has been carrying out an educational campaign on the new series banknotes. The main aim of this campaign is to promote public awareness of the security features of the new series banknotes. Activities in the education campaign include:

* seminars for the general public, retailers, social workers serving centres for the elderly, and centres for people with visual impairments

* special outreach education seminars for the elderly

* a student ambassador programme covering around 40,000 retailers in markets, shopping centres and neighbourhoods throughout Hong Kong.

For further enquiries please contact:

Hong Kong Monetary Authority

Jasmin Fung, Manager (Press), at 2878 8246

Kevin Ip, Manager (Press), at 2878 1687

Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited

Ms Angel Yip, Deputy Head of Corporate Communications Division, at 2826 6159

Ms Clarina Man, Deputy General Manager of Chief Executive's Office, at 2826 6175

Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited

Barbara So, Senior Corporate Affairs Manager, at 2820 3085

Avis Kong, Senior Corporate Affairs Manager, at 2820 3009

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

Vinh Tran, Manager External Relations, at 2822 4924

Ends/Sunday, October 10, 2004

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