BOC Hong Kong : Clarification Announcement

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Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement.

CLARIFICATION ANNOUNCEMENT

This announcement is made by the Company pursuant to Rule 13.09 of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("Listing Rules") and the Inside Information Provisions under Part XIVA of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong)("SFO").

The board of directors ("Board") of the Company notes recent media speculation with regard to a potential asset disposal by the Company.

The Board wishes to announce that the Company is conducting a feasibility study to review its group's business and assets portfolio, the results of which may or may not lead to a disposal of certain banking asset held by the Company. In the event that the Company were to proceed with any potential asset disposal, the Company will comply with the necessary requirements of the Listing Rules accordingly.

The Board wishes to emphasise that, save as disclosed in (i) the joint announcements dated 21 May 2015, 14 July 2015 and 18 December 2015 issued by Bank of China Limited and the Company; (ii) the announcements dated 26 August 2015 and 15 September 2015 issued by the Company; and (iii) the circular dated 29 December 2015 issued by the Company in relation to the proposed disposal of all the issued shares of Nanyang Commercial Bank, Limited, no binding agreement with respect to any disposal or restructuring transaction has been entered into as at the date of this announcement. No firm decision has been made to proceed with any such transaction and there is no assurance that any definitive transaction will materialise. The Company will make further announcement(s) in compliance with the Listing Rules and/or the SFO as and when appropriate.

Save as disclosed above, the Board is not aware of any information which must be announced to avoid a false market in the Company's securities or of any inside information that is required to be disclosed or is not exempted from disclosure under Part XIVA of the SFO.

As the feasibility study undertaken by the Company may or may not lead to the undertaking of any disposal and even if so, such disposal may or may not proceed to completion for various reasons, shareholders and/or potential investors of the Company are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the securities of the Company.

By order of the Board of

BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited CHAN Chun Ying Company Secretary

Hong Kong, 23 May 2016

As at the date of this announcement, the Board comprises Mr. Tian Guoli* (Chairman), Mr. Chen Siqing* (Vice Chairman), Mr. Yue Yi (Vice Chairman and Chief Executive), Mr. Ren Deqi*, Mr. Gao Yingxin*, Mr. Xu Luode*, Mr. Li Jiuzhong, Madam Cheng Eva**, Mr. Koh Beng Seng**, Mr. Shan Weijian** and Mr. Tung Savio Wai-Hok**.

* Non-executive Directors

** Independent Non-executive Directors