09:58     ORIENTAL METALS<01208> - Announcement (3)                           

    containing, among other things, further particulars                       
    of the Acquisition, the Target Group and the                              
    Non-exempt Continuing Connected Transactions,                             
    together with the recommendations of the independent                      
    board committee, a letter of advice from the                              
    independent financial adviser to advise the                               
    independent board committee and the Independent                           
    Shareholders, a notice convening the EGM, and such                        
    other information as required under the Listing Rules                     
    in support of the new listing application by the                          
    Company is expected to be despatched to the                               
    Shareholders within seven days after obtaining the                        
    approval from the Listing Committee of the Company's                      
    new listing application.                                                  
                                                                              
    Pursuant to Rules 14.38 and 14A.49 of the Listing                         
    Rules, a circular is required to be sent to the                           
    Shareholders within 21 days after publication of the                      
    Announcement. In view of the process that is required                     
    in connection with the new listing application,                           
    including the gathering of all necessary information                      
    required under the Listing Rules to be included in                        
    the circular and the vetting of the circular by the                       
    Listing Committee, it is unlikely that the circular                       
    can be despatched within the time required under the                      
    Listing Rules.                                                            
                                                                              
    An application has been made to the Stock Exchange                        
    by the Company for an extension of time for the                           
    despatch of the circular from within 21 days after                        
    publication of the Announcement to within seven days                      
    after the date on which the approval from the Listing                     
    Committee of the Company's new listing application                        
    is obtained.                                                              
                                                                              
    As Completion is subject to the fulfillment of a                          
    number of Conditions, the Acquisition may or may not                      
    be completed. Shareholders and potential investors                        
    should exercise caution when dealing in the Shares.                       
                                                                              
    By order of the board   By order of the board                             
    China Minmetals Non-ferrous Metals Company Limited                        
            Oriental Metals (Holdings) Company Limited                        
    Zhang Shoulian  Xu Huizhong                                               
    President       Director and President                                    
                                                                              
    Hong Kong, 19 January 2005                                                
                                                                              
    As at the date of this announcement, the executive                        
    Directors are Messrs. LIN Xizhong (Chairman), XU                          
    Huizhong, QIAN Wenchao, and TANG Xiaojin and the                          
    independent non-executive Directors are Messrs. LIU                       
    Hongru, CHAN Wai Dune and TING Leung Huel, Stephen.                       
                                                                              
    The directors of the Company jointly and severally                        
    accept full responsibility for the accuracy of the                        
    information contained in this announcement (other                         
    than that in relation to the Minmetals Group excluding                    
    the Group) and confirm, having made all reasonable                        
    enquiries, that to the best of their knowledge,                           
    opinions expressed in this announcement (other than                       
    that in relation to the Minmetals Group excluding the                     
    Group) have been arrived at after due and careful                         
    consideration and there are no other facts not                            
    contained in this announcement the omission of which                      
    would make any statement in this announcement (other                      
    than that in relation to the Minmetals Group excluding                    
    the Group) misleading.                                                    
                                                                              
    The directors of CMN jointly and severally accept full                    
    responsibility for the accuracy of the information                        
    contained in this announcement (other than that in                        
    relation to the Group) and confirm,