[18 December 2009 - Hong Kong] Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) has signed an agreement with Sydney Ports Corporation (SPC) that clears the way for the development and operation of the Third Terminal (T3) at Port Botany, Australia. A media conference, presided over by the Honourable Kristina Keneally, Premier of New South Wales, and Paul McLeay, Minister for Ports and Waterways, was held today in Sydney to announce the agreement.

Sydney International Container Terminals (SCTL), a wholly owned subsidiary of HPH has been established to operate T3 - the 50th port in the HPH network. The new terminal will be leased for a period of 30 years.

Speaking at the ceremony, Premier Keneally said, "As one of the most extensive and innovative port infrastructure projects undertaken anywhere in Australia over the last 30 years, T3 will underpin future job growth as well as export and import trade in and out of New South Wales and Australia. The NSW Government's appointment of HPH, the world's leading port operator, cements Port Botany's position as one of the most important container ports in the world."

Commenting on the latest addition to the HPH port network, John Meredith, Group Managing Director of HPH, said, "Australia is a major market for HPH, and we are pleased to be part of the New South Wales Government's plan to provide world-class port facilities in the State. Port Botany is New South Wales' premier port and one of Australia's major international container ports, handling one-third of the country's container traffic. We are optimistic about the future growth of Port Botany as trade increases between Australia and Asia in line with the recovering world economy."

Sydney Ports Corporation Chief Executive Officer Grant Gilfillan said he was pleased to welcome a new operator to the port: "We look forward to working with HPH, whose expertise and professionalism will enhance the competitiveness of Port Botany. The new terminal will provide the much needed capacity to meet projected long-term trade growth targets for Sydney and provide better access to shipping lines for the state's exporters and importers."

Construction of T3 has already begun. The new terminal is expected to commence operations in 2012. It will have a total quay length of 1,850 metres, five shipping berths and a 63-hectare terminal yard, of which HPH will operate four shipping berths with 1,300 metres of quay line and 46 hectares of yard.

Lease agreement signing ceremony for the development and operation of the Third Terminal at Port Botany. Front row left to right: John Meredith, Group Managing Director of HPH, Paul McLeay, Minister for Ports and Waterways, the Honourable Kristina Keneally, Premier of New South Wales, Michael Braham, Presiding Director of Sydney Ports Corporation. Back row left to right: Raymond Law, Managing Director - Australasia & North Asia, HPH, and Grant Gilfillan, Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Ports Corporation.

Aerial view of Port Botany where construction of the Third Terminal is underway.

Notes to Editors:

Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL), is the world's leading port investor, developer and operator now with interests in a total of 304 berths in 50 ports, spanning 25 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia. HPH also owns a number of transportation-related service companies.

In 2008, the HPH Group handled a combined throughput of 67.6 million TEU worldwide.