(Hong Kong, 21st February, 2002) The Bank of East Asia, Limited ("BEA") and Tradelink Electronic Commerce Limited ("Tradelink") today signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly promote secure electronic commerce in Hong Kong. Under the cooperation agreement, BEA Corporate Cyberbanking customers will be able to use Digi-Sign's digital certificate, the ID-Cert, to authenticate a wide range of banking transactions online with a high level of security.

Digi-Sign Certification Services Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tradelink. It is the first private Certification Authority recognised by the Hong Kong Government under the Electronic Transactions Ordinance. Branded ID-Cert, the digital certificates issued by Digi-Sign will serve to confirm the identity of users who access remote servers over public data networks, such as the Internet.

Tradelink has been providing certification services to its 53,000-plus customers since 1997, and over 150,000 digital certificates have been issued to date. Deploying the latest Public Key Infrastructure technology, Digi-Sign's ID-Cert offers a much higher level of security than a simple user name/password combination to provide a secure and trusted environment for conducting B2B transactions over the Internet. BEA Corporate Cyberbanking customers may pick up an application form for ID-Cert at BEA branches or visit Digi-Sign's website at www.dg-sign.com.

Mr. Adrian David M.K. Li, BEA's General Manager and Head of Corporate Banking Division, said, "BEA is the first bank in Hong Kong to offer its customers the option to use the ID-Cert. All holders of the ID-Cert may access their BEA accounts over BEA's Corporate Cyberbanking network in complete security anytime, anywhere. Our Memorandum of Understanding with Tradelink is a logical step forward, bringing together the expertise of our two great organisations to further enhance the services we offer to our clients."

Mr. Justin K.H. Yue, Tradelink's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Digi-Sign Certification Services Limited, said, "Our partnership with the Bank of East Asia provides the security infrastructure necessary to enable customers to conduct financial transactions online securely and confidently. Since Digi-Sign was granted recognition last year by the Government, ID-Cert has already found acceptance in a wide range of government and commercial services. Today we are particularly delighted about the extension of our certification services into secure banking applications, and the potential growth that gives us in the financial services and other sectors."

Following the launch of Corporate Cyberbanking last year, BEA continues to enhance the service with new and convenient features to meet the needs of corporate customers. In addition to monitoring account balances, making fund transfers, placing and renewing time deposits and viewing the latest exchange and deposit rates, BEA corporate customers are now able to make TT and CHATS transfers, open and amend Letters of Credit and submit MPF remittance statements online.

Jointly issued by The Bank of East Asia and Tradelink. For press enquiries, please contact Tradelink (Corporate Communications) on 2599 1686.