Interim Report 2023

45 INTERIM REPORT 2023 10. PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD Six months ended 30 June 2023 2022 HK$’million HK$’million Profit for the period has been arrived at after charging: Staff costs (including Directors’ emoluments) 1,036 1,126 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 760 802 Depreciation of right-of-use assets 260 269 Amortisation of intangible assets 155 138 11. DIVIDENDS Six months ended 30 June 2023 2022 HK$’million HK$’million Interim dividend of 22 HK cents (2022: 22 HK cents) per ordinary share 909 866 At a meeting held on 30 August 2023, the Board of Directors proposed an interim dividend of 22 HK cents per ordinary share, which will be satisfied by allotment of new shares of the Company, credited as fully paid, by way of scrip dividend, with an alternative to shareholders to elect to receive such interim dividend (or part thereof) in cash in lieu of such allotment. This proposed dividend is not reflected as dividend payable in this condensed consolidated interim financial information but will be reflected as an appropriation of retained earnings for the year ending 31 December 2023. The amount of interim dividend for 2023 was based on 4,130,981,006 (2022: 3,938,269,512) shares in issue as at 30 August 2023. Pursuant to the shareholders’ approval at the Annual General Meeting held on 2 June 2023, a final dividend of 60 HK cents per ordinary share, totalling HK$2,402 million for the year ended 31 December 2022 was declared. In July 2023, the Company issued 127,597,960 shares under the Company’s scrip dividend scheme.