31 Oct 2012 “BOCHK’s Banknote Exhibition” organised by Bank of China (Hong Kong) is open to public Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (“BOCHK”) is pleased to present “BOCHK’s Banknote Exhibition” starting from 1 November, in celebration of the centenary of its parent bank, Bank of China (“BOC”). With over 200 pieces of exhibits selected from BOCHK’s banknote collections over the century, the exhibition aims to share with the public the unforgettable stories of the monetary development of modern China. The opening ceremony of the exhibition was held today (31 October) at 3/F, Bank of China Tower. The officiating guests of the ceremony include Mr He Guangbei, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK; Mr Lin Wu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”); Mr Li Yuanming, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) in the HKSAR; and Ms Cynthia Liu, Deputy Director (Culture) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the HKSAR. Addressing the audience at the opening ceremony, Mr He Guangbei, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK, said, “Bank of China, the only domestic bank that has been operating continuously for 100 years, began to issue HKD and MOP banknotes since 1994 and 1995 respectively. We take great pleasure in showing to the public some of its significant banknote series. On top of the precious historical value, the exhibits highlight refined designs: some are delicately crafted while some display general and simple patterns. As a vivid reflection of the styles and cultural uniqueness of each decade, these banknotes also showcase the increasingly sophisticated security features developed over times. While taking us on a journey to our historical development, this exhibition gives us a glimpse into the banknote design concepts and the craftsmanship evolved over the century.” The exhibits are displayed in chronological order from the late Qing Dynasty to modern China, reflecting its historical development and social changes. These treasures include the One Page 1 of 3 Dollar Silver Coin Note issued by Anhwei Yu Huan Bank in 1907; the Five Dollar Banknote issued by BOC in 1941 which was temporarily used by the Hong Kong Government; the Five Tael Banknote issued by International Banking Corporation in Shanghai in 1918; banknotes issued by the member banks of the former BOC Group; the Soviet-area banknotes and the Military Payment Certificates of the United States. The exhibits of extreme rarity also include the RMB notes issued by the PRC in its early years, such as the RMB Five Hundred Yuan Note (picture of Zhandecheng), RMB Five Thousand Yuan Note (picture of Mongolian yurts) and RMB Ten Thousand Yuan Note (picture of herding horses) among the first set of RMB notes issued by the People’s Bank of China. In addition, the Special Edition of the New Century Commemorative Polymer Banknote issued by the People’s Bank of China in 2000, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Commemorative Banknote, the first Olympic-themed banknote in the history of the Olympic Games, as well as the Commemorative Banknote in Celebration of the Centenary of BOC are also displayed. Some of the banknotes are exhibited for the first time to give the public an eye-opening view of the historical and financial background of modern China. For the sake of convenience, asterisks* are supplemented to indicate the appreciation value of individual exhibits: the greater the number of asterisks, the higher the appreciation value. Located at 3/F of the Bank of China Tower, 1 Garden Road, Hong Kong, the BOCHK’s Banknote Exhibition is open to the public with free admission from 1 November to 15 December 2012, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays, and 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays. The exhibition is closed on Sundays and public holidays. - End - About Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (“BOCHK”), established on 1 October 2001, is a leading listed commercial banking group in Hong Kong. With over 260 branches, 580 ATMs and other distribution Page 2 of 3 channels in Hong Kong, BOCHK and its subsidiaries offer a comprehensive range of financial products and services to individual and corporate customers. BOCHK is one of the three note issuing banks in Hong Kong. In addition, the BOCHK Group (comprising BOCHK, Nanyang Commercial Bank and Chiyu Banking Corporation) and its subsidiaries have 33 branches and sub-branches in the Mainland of China to provide cross-border banking services to customers in Hong Kong and the Mainland. BOCHK is appointed by the People’s Bank of China as the Clearing Bank for Renminbi business in Hong Kong. On 13 July 2010, BOCHK was authorised as the Clearing Bank of RMB banknotes business for the Taiwan region. BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited, BOCHK’s holding company, began trading on the main board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong on 25 July 2002, with stock code “2388”, ADR OTC Symbol “BHKLY”. Page 3 of 3.