Annual Report 2023

161 ANNUAL REPORT 2023 26. CASH AND BANK BALANCES 2023 2022 HK$’million HK$’million Cash at bank and in hand 7,884 6,794 Short-term time and other deposits (Note (a)) 4,399 2,831 Cash and cash equivalents 12,283 9,625 Other deposits (Note (b)) 48 4 12,331 9,629 Notes: (a) The weighted average effective interest rate on the balances as at the end of the reporting period is approximately 4.52% (2022: 2.62%) per annum. These deposits can be readily convertible to cash before maturity. (b) The weighted average effective interest rate on the balances as at 31 December 2023 was approximately 2.30% per annum. These deposits are not convertible to cash until maturity. 27. SHARE CAPITAL The Company Number of shares Share capital 2023 2022 2023 2022 HK$’million HK$’million Issued and fully paid: As at 1 January 4,003,383,046 3,785,619,729 46,668 44,017 Issue of scrip dividend shares (Note) 194,626,140 217,763,317 2,063 2,651 As at 31 December 4,198,009,186 4,003,383,046 48,731 46,668 Note: The Company distributed dividends to its shareholders by way of scrip dividends, with a cash alternative to shareholders. Details of ordinary shares issued by the Company as dividends are as follows: Number of Date of issue shares issued 2022 final dividend 21 July 2023 127,597,960 2023 interim dividend 22 November 2023 67,028,180 2023 Total 194,626,140 2022 Total 217,763,317