Financial Highlights

	1997 HK$ millions	1996 HK$ millions	Percentage change
Turnover
Company and subsidiary companies	44,590	36,662	+22%
Share of associated companies	16,969	17,160	-1%
	61,559	53,822	+14%
Earnings before interest expense and taxation
Company and subsidiary companies	12,679	10,709	+18%
Share of associated companies	3,744	4,208	-11%
Interest income, including share of associated companies	3,423	2,324	+47%
Total earnings before interest expense and taxation (EBIT)	19,846	17,241	+15%
Interest expense, including share of associated companies	5,129	3,248	+58%
Profit before taxation	14,717	13,993	+5%
Taxation	1,179	1,311	-10%
Profit after taxation	13,538	12,682	+7%
Minority interests	1,272	662	+92%
Profit attributable to the shareholders	12,266	12,020	+2%
Total assets	200,743	131,579	+53%
Net debts	29,601	10,416	+184%
Shareholders' funds	85,589	68,899	+24%
Net assets per share - book value (HK$)	22.1	19.0	+16%
Earnings per share (HK$)	3.21	3.32	-3%
Dividends per share (HK$)	1.58	1.50	+5%
Dividend cover	2.0	2.1	-5%
Gearing	31.2%	14.0%	+123%
Return on average shareholders' funds	15.9%	18.8%	-15%