EX-1 2 bankofeastasiada.htm FORM OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dep.4.29~wp
















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THE BANK OF EAST ASIA, LIMITED


AND


THE BANK OF NEW YORK



As Depositary


AND


OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS


Deposit Agreement



Dated as of July 15, 1993



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DEPOSIT AGREEMENT













DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of July 15, 1993 among The Bank of East Asia, Limited, incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong (herein called the Company), THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation (herein called the Depositary), and all Owners and holders from time to time of American De­positary Receipts issued hereunder.



W I T N E S S E T H :



WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of Shares (as hereinafter defined) of the Company from time to time with the Depositary or with the Custodian (as hereinafter defined) as agent of the Depositary for the purposes set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American Depositary Shares representing the Shares so deposited and for the execu­tion and delivery of American Depositary Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares; and


WHEREAS, the American Depositary Receipts are to be sub­stantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with ap­propriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as herein­after provided in this Deposit Agreement;


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:



ARTICLE 1.DEFINITIONS.


The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:


SECTION 1.01. American Depositary Shares.


The term "American Depositary Shares" shall mean the securities representing the interests in the Deposited Securi­ties and evidenced by the Receipts issued hereunder.  Each American Depositary Share shall represent one Shares, until there shall occur a distribution upon Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.03 or a change in Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.08 with respect to which additional Re­ceipts are not executed and delivered, and thereafter American Depositary Shares shall evidence the amount of Shares or De­posited Securities specified in such Sections.


SECTION 1.02. Commission.


The term "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States or any successor gov­ernmental agency in the United States.


SECTION 1.03. Company.


The term "Company" shall mean The Bank of East Asia, Limited, incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong, and its suc­cessors.


SECTION 1.04. Custodian.


The term "Custodian" shall mean The Bank of East Asia, Limited in Hong Kong, as agent of the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any other firm or cor­poration which may hereafter be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to the terms of Section 5.05, as substitute or ad­ditional custodian or custodians hereunder, as the context shall require and shall also mean all of them collectively.


SECTION 1.05. Deposit Agreement.


The term "Deposit Agreement" shall mean this Agree­ment, as the same may be amended from time to time in ac­­­cordance with the provisions hereof.


SECTION 1.06 Depositary; Corporate Trust Office


The term "Depositary" shall mean The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, and any successor as depositary hereunder.  The term "Corporate Trust Office", when used with respect to the Depositary, shall mean the office of the Depositary which at the date of this Agreement is 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York, 10286.


SECTION 1.07. Deposited Securities.


The term "Deposited Securities" as of any time shall mean Shares at such time deposited or deemed to be deposited under this Deposit Agreement and any and all other securities, property and cash received by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect thereof and at such time held hereunder, subject as to cash to the provisions of Section 4.05.


SECTION 1.08. Dollars.


The term "Dollars" shall mean United States dollars.  The symbol "HK$" shall mean Hong Kong dollars.


SECTION 1.09. Foreign Registrar.


The term "Foreign Registrar" shall mean any entity that presently carries out the duties of registrar for the Shares or any suc­cessor as registrar for the Shares or any Successor as Registrar for the Shares and any  other appointed agent of the Company for the transfer and registration of Shares.


SECTION 1.10. Owner.


The term "Owner" shall mean the person in whose name a Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary main­tained for such purpose.


SECTION 1.11. Receipts.


The term "Receipts" shall mean the American Deposi­tary Receipts issued hereunder evidencing American Depositary Shares.


SECTION 1.12. Registrar.


The term "Registrar" shall mean any bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall be appointed to register Receipts and transfers of Receipts as herein provided.


SECTION 1.13. Securities Act of 1933.


The term "Securities Act of 1933" shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.


SECTION 1.14. Shares.


The term "Shares" shall mean the ordinary registered shares of the Company with a nominal value of HK$ 2.50 each, heretofore validly issued and outstanding and fully paid, non­assessable and free of any pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares or hereafter validly issued and out­standing and fully paid, nonassessable and free of any pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares or interim certificates representing such Shares.



ARTICLE 2 FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RE­CEIPTS.


SECTION 2.01. Form and Transferability of Receipts.


Definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided.  No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obliga­tory for any purpose, unless such Receipt shall have been ex­ecuted by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and such Receipts are coun­tersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar.  The Depositary shall maintain books on which each Receipt so executed and delivered as hereinafter provided and the transfer of each such Receipt shall be regis­tered.  Receipts bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary who was at any time a proper signatory of the Depositary shall bind the De­positary, notwithstanding that such signatory has ceased to hold such office prior to the execution and delivery of such Receipts by the Registrar or did not hold such office on the date of issuance of such Receipts.


The Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorpo­rated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or modifi­cations not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement as may be required by the Depositary or required to comply with any applicable law or regulations thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which American Depositary Shares may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any spe­cial limitations or restrictions to which any particular Re­ceipts are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the underlying Deposited Securities or otherwise.


Title to a Receipt (and to the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby), when properly endorsed or ac­­­companied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be trans­ferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument; provided, however, that the Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner thereof as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.


SECTION 2.02. Deposit of Shares.


Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, Shares or evidence of rights to receive Shares may be deposited by delivery thereof to any Custodian hereunder, accompanied by any appropriate instrument or instruments of transfer, or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Custo­dian, together with all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the pro­visions of this Deposit Agreement, and, if the Depositary re­quires, together with a written order directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in such order, a Receipt or Receipts for the number of American Depositary Shares representing such deposit.  No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless ac­companied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body, if any, in Hong Kong which is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange.  If required by the De­positary, Shares presented for deposit at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign Regis­trar, if applicable, are closed, shall also be accompanied by an agreement or assignment, or other instrument satisfactory to the Depositary, which will provide for the prompt transfer to the Custodian of any dividend, or right to subscribe for additional Shares or to receive other property which any per­son in whose name the Shares are or have been recorded may thereafter receive upon or in respect of such deposited Shares, or in lieu thereof, such agreement of indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary.


At the request and risk and expense of any person proposing to deposit Shares, and for the account of such per­son, the Depositary may receive certificates for Shares to be deposited, together with the other instruments herein speci­fied, for the purpose of forwarding such Share certificates to the Custodian for deposit hereunder.


Upon each delivery to a Custodian of a certificate or certificates for Shares to be deposited hereunder, together with the other documents above specified, such Custodian shall, as soon as transfer and recordation can be ac­­­complished, present such certificate or certificates to the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, for transfer and recordation of the Shares being deposited in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or its nomi­nee.


Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a Custodian for the account and to the order of the De­positary or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine.


SECTION 2.03. Execution and Delivery of Receipts.


Upon receipt by any Custodian of any deposit pursu­ant to Section 2.02 hereunder (and in addition, if the trans­fer books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if ap­­plicable, are open, the Depositary may in its sole discretion require a proper acknowledgment or other evidence from the Company that any Deposited Securities have been recorded upon the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if ap­­plicable, in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or its nominee), together with the other documents required as above specified, such Custodian shall notify the Depositary of such deposit and the person or persons to whom or upon whose written order a Receipt or Receipts are deliver­able in respect thereof and the number of American Depositary Shares to be evidenced thereby.  Such notification shall be made by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by cable, telex or facsimile trans­mission.  Upon receiving such notice from such Custodian, or upon the receipt of Shares by the Depositary, the Depositary, subject to the terms and condi­tions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and deliver at its Corporate Trust Office, to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto, a Receipt or Receipts, registered in the name or names and evi­dencing any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested by such person or persons, but only upon payment to the Depositary of the fees of the Depositary for the execution and delivery of such Receipt or Receipts as provided in Sec­tion 5.09, and of all taxes and governmental charges and fees payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of the Deposited Securities.


SECTION 2.04. Transfer of Receipts; Combination and Split-up of Receipts.


The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement including payment of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09, shall register trans­fers of Receipts on its transfer books from time to time, upon any surrender of a Receipt, by the Owner in person or by a duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, and duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and of the United States of America.  Thereupon the Depositary shall ex­ecute a new Receipt or Receipts and deliver the same to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto but only upon payment to the Depositary of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09.


The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combi­nation of such Receipt or Receipts, execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of American De­positary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate num­ber of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.


The Depositary may appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting transfers, combinations and split-ups of Receipts at designated transfer offices on behalf of the Depositary.  In carrying out its functions, a co-transfer agent may require evidence of authority and com­pliance with applicable laws and other requirements by Owners or persons entitled to Receipts  and will be entitled to pro­tection and indemnity to the same extent as the Depositary.


SECTION 2.05. Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Shares.


Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of a Receipt for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts as provided in Section 5.09 and payment of all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such surrender and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms and condi­tions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owner of such Receipt shall be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt.  De­livery of such Deposited Securities shall be made by the de­livery of (a) certificates in the name of such Owner or as ordered by him or certificates properly endorsed or ac­­companied by proper instruments of transfer to such Owner or as ordered by him and (b) any other securities, property and cash to which such Owner is then entitled in respect of such Receipts to such Owner or as ordered by him.  Such delivery shall be made, as hereinafter provided, without unreasonable delay.


A Receipt surrendered for such purposes may be re­quired by the Depositary to be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank, and if the Depositary so requires, the Owner thereof shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be delivered to or upon the written order of a person or persons designated in such order.  Thereupon the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to deliver at the main office of such Custodian in Hong Kong, subject to Sections 2.06, 3.01 and 3.02 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, to or upon the written order of the person or per­sons designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as above provided, the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by  such Receipt, except that the Depositary may make delivery to such person or persons at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of any dividends or distributions with respect to the Deposited Secu­rities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, or of any proceeds of sale of any dividends, distributions or rights, which may at the time be held by the Depositary.


At the request, risk and expense of any Owner so surrendering a Receipt, and for the account of such Owner, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward any cash or other property (other than rights) comprising, and forward a certificate or certificates and other proper documents of title for, the Deposited Securities represented by the Ameri­can Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt to the Deposi­tary for delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Deposi­tary.  Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the re­quest, risk and expense of such Owner, by cable, telex or fac­simile transmission.


SECTION 2.06. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of Receipts.


As a condition precedent to the execution and deliv­ery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination or sur­render of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securi­ties, the Depositary, Custodian or Registrar may require pay­ment from the depositor of Shares or the presenter of the Re­ceipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registra­tion fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and pay­ment of any applicable fees as herein provided, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compli­ance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consis­tent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section 2.06.


The delivery of Receipts against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits of particular Shares may be sus­pended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of this Deposit Agree­ment, or for any other reason, subject to the provisions of the following sentence.  The surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders' meet­ing, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities.  Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Shares required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares.


SECTION 2.07. Lost Receipts, etc.


In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt of like tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt.  Before the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt in substitution for a destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, the Owner thereof shall have (a) filed with the Depositary (i) a request for such execution and delivery before the Depositary has notice that the Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond and (b) satis­fied any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Deposi­tary.


SECTION 2.08. Cancellation and Destruction of Sur­­rendered Receipts.


All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary shall be cancelled by the Depositary.  The Depositary is authorized to destroy Receipts so cancelled.


SECTION 2.09. Pre-Release of Receipts.


Notwithstanding Section 2.03 hereof, the Depositary may execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 ("Pre-Release").  The Deposi­tary may, pursuant to Section 2.05, deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts which have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt has been Pre-Released.  The Depositary may re­ceive Receipts in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release.  Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom Receipts are to be delivered that such person, or its customer, owns the Shares or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash or such other col­lateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regula­tions as the Depositary deems appropriate.  The number of American Depositary Shares which are outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Releases will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited hereunder; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropri­ate.


The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection with the foregoing.



ARTICLE 3. CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS OF RECEIPTS.


SECTION 3.01. Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other In­formation.


Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certifi­cates and to make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper.  The Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any Re­ceipt or the distribution of any dividend or sale or distribu­tion of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representa­tions and warranties made.


SECTION 3.02. Liability of Owner for Taxes.


If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable with respect to any Receipt or any Deposited Securi­ties represented by any Receipt, such tax or other governmen­tal charge shall be payable by the Owner of such Receipt to the Depositary.  The Depositary may refuse to ef­fect any transfer of such Receipt or any withdrawal of Deposited Secu­rities represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt until such payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner thereof any part or all of the Deposited Securi­ties represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, and may apply such dividends or other distri­butions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge and the Owner of such Receipt shall remain liable for any deficiency.


SECTION 3.03. Warranties on Deposit of Shares.


Every person depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of any pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the per­son making such deposit is duly authorized so to do.  Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that the deposit of such Shares and the sale of Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Shares by that person are not restricted under the Securities Act of 1933.  Such repre­sentations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance of Receipts.


SECTION 3.04. Disclosure of Interests.


The Company may from time to time request Owners or former Owners to provide information as to the capacity in which such Owners own or owned Receipts and regarding the identity of any other Persons then or previously interested in such Receipts and the nature of such interest and various other matters.  Each Owner agrees to provide any information requested by the company or the Depositary pursuant to this Section whether or not such Person is still an Owner at the time of such request.  The Depositary agrees to use reasonable efforts to comply with written instructions received from the Company requesting that the Depositary forward any such re­quests to the Owners and to forward to the Company any such responses to such requests received by the Depositary.



ARTICLE 4. THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES.


SECTION 4.01. Cash Distributions.


Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash divi­dend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, subject to the provisions of Section 4.05, convert such dividend or distribution into Dollars and shall distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of Ameri­can Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively; provided, however, that in the event that the Company or the Depositary shall be required to withhold and does withhold from such cash dividend or such other cash distribution an amount on account of taxes, the amount distributed to the Owner of the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securi­ties shall be reduced accordingly.  The Depositary shall dis­tribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed with­out attributing to any Owner a fraction of one cent.  Any such fractional amounts shall be rounded to the nearest whole cent and so distributed to Owners entitled thereto.  The Company or its agent will remit to the appropriate governmental agency in Hong Kong all amounts withheld and owing to such agency.  The Depositary will forward to the Company or its agent such in­formation from its records as the Company may reasonably re­quest to enable the Company or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies, and the Depositary or the Company or its agent may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax treaties for the Own­ers of Receipts.


SECTION 4.02. Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights.


Subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.09, whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than a distribution described in Sections 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04, the Depositary shall cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares repre­senting such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and prac­ticable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, how­ever, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribu­tion cannot be made proportionately among the Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including, but not lim­ited to, any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to Owners or holders) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be fea­sible, the Depositary may adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in cash.


SECTION 4.03. Distributions in Shares.


If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall so request, distribute to the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate num­ber of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with re­spect to the deposit of Shares and the issuance of American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts, including the with­holding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 and the payment of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09.  In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary shall sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01.  If additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also repre­sent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Se­curities represented thereby.


SECTION 4.04. Rights.


In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights avail­able to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse.  If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary may distribute to any Owner to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropri­ate.  


In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner of Receipts requests the distribu­tion of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner hereunder, the Depositary will make such rights avail­able to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has elected in its sole dis­cretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has deter­mined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.  


If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exer­cise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the pur­chase price of the Shares to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other in­struments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, ex­ercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner.  As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be depos­ited pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of this Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner.  In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this section, such Receipts shall be legended in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, and shall be subject to the appropriate restric­tions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under such laws.


If the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American De­positary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an aver­aged or other practical basis without regard to any distinc­tions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise.  


The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners un­less both the rights and the securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securi­ties Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to all Owners or are registered under the provisions of such Act.  If an Owner of Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under such Act, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution unless it has received an opinion from rec­ognized counsel in the United States for the Company upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is exempt from such registration.


Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be re­sponsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any Owner in particular.


SECTION 4.05. Conversion of Foreign Currency.


Whenever the Depositary shall receive foreign cur­rency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine, such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the holders of such warrants and/or instru­ments upon surrender thereof for cancellation.  Such distribu­tion may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09.


If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such application for ap­proval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.


If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any foreign currency received by the Deposi­tary is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dol­lars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or li­cense of any government or agency thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Deposi­tary is not obtainable, or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign cur­rency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective ac­counts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.


If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.


SECTION 4.06. Fixing of Record Date.


Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribu­tion shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix a record date (a) for the determination of the Owners who shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof or (ii) en­titled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares.  Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.01 through 4.05 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owners on such record date shall be entitled, as the case may be, to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with respect to such dividend or other distribution or such rights or the net proceeds of sale thereof in proportion to the num­ber of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively and to give voting instructions and to act in respect of any other such matter.


SECTION 4.07. Voting of Deposited Securities.


Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners a notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting, and (b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of Hong Kong law and of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Com­pany, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares.  Upon the written request of an Owner on such record date, received on or before the date es­tablished by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor, in so far as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request.  The Depositary shall not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited Securities, other than in accordance with such instructions.


If after complying with the procedures set forth in this Section the Depositary does not receive instructions from the Owner of a Receipt on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy for the Shares evidenced by such Receipt to a Person designated by the Company.


SECTION 4.08. Changes Affecting Deposited Securities.


In circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.03 do not apply, upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation or any other reclassifica­tion of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets af­fecting the Company or to which it is a party, any securities which shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for or in conversion of or in respect of Deposited Securities, shall be treated as new Deposited Securities under this Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent the new Deposited Securities so received in exchange or conversion, unless additional Receipts are de­livered pursuant to the following sentence.  In any such case the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall so request, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically de­scribing such new Deposited Securities.


SECTION 4.09. Reports.


The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at its Corporate Trust Office (i) this Deposit Agreement and (ii) any reports and com­munications, including any proxy soliciting material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made gener­ally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company.  The De­positary shall also send to the Owners copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 5.06.  To the extent required by Rule 12g3-2(b) or otherwise by the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, such reports and communications, including any such proxy so­liciting material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be furnished in English or, if permitted by such Rule, summarized in English.


In addition, upon notice that the Company has not furnished the Commission with any public reports, documents or other information as required by foreign law or otherwise un­der Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as from time to time amended, the Depositary shall furnish promptly to the Commission copies of all annual or other peri­odic reports and other notices or communications which the Depositary receives as holder of the Deposited Securities from the Company and which are not so furnished to or filed with the Commission pursuant to any other requirement of the Com­mission and the Depositary is hereby authorized by the Company so to do on its behalf.  


SECTION 4.10. Lists of Owners.


Promptly upon request by the Company, the Depositary shall, at the expense of the Depositary or the Company as agreed to in writing by the Company and the Depositary, fur­nish to it a list, as of a recent date, of the names, ad­­dresses and holdings of American Depositary Shares by all per­sons in whose names Receipts are registered on the books of the Depositary.


SECTION 4.11. Withholding.


In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to sub­scribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the De­positary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to sub­scribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of such taxes or charges to the Owners entitled thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respec­­tively.


The Depositary shall use reasonable efforts but without expense to the Depositary to make and maintain ar­rangements enabling Owners who are citizens or residents of the United States of America to receive any tax credits or other benefits (pursuant to treaty or otherwise) relating to dividend payments on the American Depositary Shares.


SECTION 4.12. Forwarding of Information.


The Depositary will forward to the Company or its agent such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the company or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies or stock ex­­changes.



ARTICLE 5. THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY.


SECTION 5.01. Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary.


Until termination of this Deposit Agreement in ac­cordance with its terms, the Depositary shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, facilities for the execution and delivery, registration, registration of trans­fers and surrender of Receipts in accordance with the provi­sions of this Deposit Agreement.


The Depositary shall keep books for the registration of Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Owners, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of com­­municating with Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.


The Depositary may close the transfer books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in con­nection with the performance of its duties hereunder.


SECTION 5.02. Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company.


Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall incur any liability to any Owner or holder of any Receipt, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regu­lation of the United States or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Articles of Association of the Company, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from, or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of this De­posit Agreement it is provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company incur any liability to any Owner or holder of any Receipt by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit Agree­ment it is provided shall or may be done or performed, or by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discre­tion provided for in this Deposit Agree­ment.  Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Sec­tions 4.01, 4.02, or 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, or an of­fering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, such distribution or of­fering may  not be made available to Owners, and the Depositary may not dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the De­positary shall not make such distribu­tion or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse.


SECTION 5.03. Obligations of the Depositary, the Custo­dian and the Company.


The Company assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to Own­ers or holders of Receipts, except that it agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agree­ment without negligence or bad faith.


The Depositary assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or holder of any Receipt (including, without limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Depos­ited Securities), except that it agrees to perform its obliga­tions specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.


Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be un­der any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any ac­tion, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securi­ties or in respect of the Receipts, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity sat­isfac­tory to it against all expense and liability shall be furnished as often as may be required, and the Custodian shall not be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary.


Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be li­able for any action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information.


The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the De­posited Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good faith.


No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of this Deposit Agree­ment.


SECTION 5.04. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary.


 The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company.  The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal.  In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be re­moved, it shall continue to act as Depositary for the purpose of terminating this Deposit Agreement pursuant to Sec­tion 6.02.


Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.


SECTION 5.05. The Custodians.


The Custodian shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the directions of  the Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it.  Any Custodian may resign and be discharged from its duties hereunder by notice of such resig­nation delivered to the Depositary at least 6 months prior to the date on which such resignation is to become effective.  If upon such resignation there shall be no Custodian acting here­under, the Depositary shall, promptly after receiving such notice, appoint a substitute custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter be a Custodian hereunder.  Whenever the Depositary in its discretion determines that it is in the best interest of the Owners to do so, it may appoint substitute or additional custodian or custodians, which shall thereafter be one of the Custodians hereunder.  Upon demand of the Deposi­tary any Custodian shall deliver such of the Deposited Securi­ties held by it as are requested of it to any other Custodian or such substitute or additional custodian or custodians.  Each such substitute or additional custodian shall deliver to the Depositary, forthwith upon its appoint­ment, an acceptance of such appointment satisfactory in form and substance to the Depositary.


SECTION 5.06. Notices and Reports.


On or before the first date on which the Company gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking of any action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any rights, the Company agrees to transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the notice thereof in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities.


The Company will arrange for the translation into English, if not already in English, to the extent required pursuant to any regulations of the Commission and the prompt transmittal by the Company to the Depositary and the Custodian of such notices and any other reports and communications which are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares.  If requested in writing by the Company, the Deposi­tary will arrange for the mailing, at the Company's expense, of cop­ies of such notices, reports and communications to all Owners.  The Company will timely provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports, and communications, as requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order for the Depositary to effect such mailings.  


SECTION 5.07. Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.


The Company agrees that in the event of any issuance or distribution, other than such issuance or distribution which by its terms is required to occur entirely outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S, of (1) ad­ditional Shares (except Shares distributed by way of a divi­dend in Shares), (2) rights to sub­scribe for Shares, (3) secu­rities convertible into Shares, or (4) rights to subscribe for such securities, (each a "Distri­bution") in any case as a dividend or distribution with re­spect to the Deposited Securi­ties, if reasonably requested by the Depositary the Company will promptly furnish to the De­positary a written opinion from U.S. counsel for the Company, which counsel shall be reason­ably satisfactory to the Deposi­tary, stating whether or not the Distribution requires a Reg­istration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 to be in effect prior to making such Distribution available to Owners entitled thereto.  If in the opinion of such counsel a Regis­tration Statement is required, such counsel shall furnish to the Depositary a written opinion as to whether or not there is a Registration Statement in ef­fect which will cover such Dis­tribution.


If registration under the Securities Act of 1933 would be required in connection with any such Distribution to Holders, the Company shall have no obligation to effect such registration and, in the absence of such registration, the Depositary shall dispose of such distributed securities and make the net proceeds of such disposition available to Holders as provided in Section 4.05 above.


In the event of any Distribution other than as a dividend or other distribution with respect to Deposited Secu­rities, the company shall have no obligation to register such distributed securities under the Securities Act of 1933 and, to the extent the Company in its discretion deems it necessary or advisable to avoid any requirement to register such securi­ties under the Securities Act of 1933, may prevent Holders in the United States from purchasing any such securities (whether pursuant to preemptive rights or otherwise) and direct the Depositary not to accept any shares for deposit for such pe­riod of time following the issuance of such securities and to adopt such other specific measures as the company may reason­ably request in writing.


The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any company controlled by, controlling or un­der common control with the Company will at any time deposit any Shares, either originally issued or previously issued and reacquired by the Company or any such affiliate, unless a Reg­istration Statement is in effect as to such Shares under the Securities Act of 1933.


SECTION 5.08. Indemnification.


The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its directors, employees, agents and affiliates and any Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability or expense (including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted, in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or their respective directors, em­ployees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of either of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, em­ployees, agents and affiliates.


The Company shall not indemnify the Depositary or any Custodian against any liability or expense arising out of information relating to the Depositary or such Custodian, as the case may be, furnished in a signed writing to the Company, executed by the Depositary, expressly for use in any registra­tion statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus relating to any Deposited Securities represented by the American De­positary Shares


The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company, its directors, employees, agents and affiliates and hold them harmless from any liability or expense (including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or its Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates due to their negligence or bad faith.


Any Person seeking indemnification hereunder (an "indemnified person") shall notify the Person from whom it is seeking indemnification (the "indemnifying person") of a com­mencement of any indemnifiable action or claim promptly after such indemnified person becomes aware of such commencement and shall consult in good faith with the indemnifying person as to the conduct of the defense of such actin or claim, which de­fense shall be reasonable under the circumstances.  No indem­nified person shall compromise or settle any action or claim without the consent of the indemnifying person.


SECTION 5.09. Charges of Depositary.


The Company agrees to pay the fees, reasonable ex­penses and out-of-pocket charges of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and the Company from time to time.  The Depositary shall present its statement for such charges and expenses to the Company once every three months.  The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.


The following charges shall not be payable by the Company but shall be incurred by any party depositing or with­drawing Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts or to whom Receipts are issued (including, without limitation, issu­ance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the Receipts or Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.03), whichever applicable: (1) taxes and other gov­ernmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share register of the Company or For­eign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in this Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05, (5) a fee not in excess of $10.00 or less per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the execution and delivery of Re­ceipts pursuant to Sections 2.03 or 4.03 and the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05 and, (6) a fee not in excess of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to the De­posit Agreement, including but not limited to Sections 4.01 through 4.04 hereof, and, (7) a fee not in excess of $1.50 or less per certificate for a Receipt or Receipts for transfers made pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement.


The Depositary, subject to Section 2.09 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.


SECTION 5.10. Retention of Depositary Documents.


The Depositary is authorized to destroy those docu­ments, records, bills and other data compiled during the  term of this Deposit Agreement at the times permitted by the laws or regulations governing the Depositary unless the Company requests that such papers be retained for a longer period or turned over to the Company or to a successor depositary.


SECTION 5.11. Exclusivity.


The Company agrees not to appoint any other deposi­tary for issuance of American Depositary Receipts so long as The Bank of New York is acting as Depositary hereunder.



ARTICLE 6. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.


SECTION 6.01. Amendment.


The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable.  Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall otherwise preju­dice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the ex­piration of thirty days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding Receipts.  Every Owner at the time any amendment so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agree­ment as amended thereby.  In no event shall any amendment im­pair the right of the Owner of any Receipt to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited Securities repre­sented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory pro­visions of applicable law.


SECTION 6.02. Termination.


Upon the resignation or removal of the Depositary pursuant to Section 5.04, or at any time at the direction of the Company, the Depositary shall terminate this Deposit Agree­ment by mailing notice of such termination to the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 90 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination.  On and after the date of termination, the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.05, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt.  If any Receipts shall re­main outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further notices or per­form any further acts under this Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to col­lect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights as provided in this Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other prop­erty, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges).  At any time after the expiration of one year from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held hereunder and may thereaf­ter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, to­gether with any other cash then held by it hereunder, unsegre­gated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of Receipts which have not theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds.  After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges).  Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.08 and 5.09 hereof.



ARTICLE 7 MISCELLANEOUS.


SECTION 7.01. Counterparts.


This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Custodians and shall be open to inspection by any holder or Owner of a Receipt during business hours.


SECTION 7.02. No Third Party Beneficiaries.


This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and shall not be deemed to give any le­gal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person.


SECTION 7.03. Severability.


In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or be­come invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provi­sions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.


SECTION 7.04. Holders and Owners as Parties; Binding Effect.


The holders and Owners of Receipts from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts by acceptance thereof.


SECTION 7.05. Notices.


Any and all notices to be given to the Company shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission con­firmed by letter, addressed to The Bank of East Asia, Limited, 314-324 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong, Attention:  Mr. Chan Kay Cheung, Company Secretary, Facsimile No.:  (852) 833-6423, or any other place to which the Company may have transferred its principal office.


Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have been duly given if in English and per­sonally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, Attention: American Depositary Receipt Administration, telephone number (212) 815-2089, telecopy number (212) 571-3050 or any other place to which the Depositary may have transferred its Corpo­rate Trust Office.


Any and all notices to be given to any Owner shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission con­firmed by letter, addressed to such Owner at the address of such Owner as it appears on the transfer books for Receipts of the Depositary, or, if such Owner shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such Owner be mailed to some other address, at the address desig­nated in such request.


Delivery of a notice sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a cable, telex or fac­simile transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office letter box.  The Depositary or the Company may, how­ever, act upon any cable, telex or facsimile transmission re­ceived by it, notwithstanding that such cable, telex or fac­simile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as aforesaid.


SECTION 7.06. Governing Law.


This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provi­sions hereof and thereof shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.


SECTION 7.07. Assignment.


This Deposit Agreement may not be assigned by either the Company or the Depositary.





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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, THE BANK OF EAST ASIA, LIMITED and THE BANK OF NEW YORK have duly executed this agreement as of the day and year first set forth above and all Owners shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of Receipts is­sued in accordance with the terms hereof.




THE BANK OF EAST ASIA, LIMITED




By: __________________________





THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as

Depositary




By: __________________________





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