| 27 | PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAX |
Profit before income tax is stated after charging/(crediting) the following:
| For the year ended 31 December | ||||||||||||
| 2017 RMB million |
2016 RMB million |
2015 RMB million |
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Employee salaries and welfare costs |
18,741 | 15,955 | 13,045 | |||||||||
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Housing benefits |
933 | 838 | 824 | |||||||||
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Contribution to the defined contribution pension plan |
2,357 | 1,798 | 1,678 | |||||||||
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Depreciation and amortisation |
2,240 | 2,083 | 2,036 | |||||||||
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Foreign exchange (gains)/losses |
(52 | ) | (582 | ) | (812 | ) | ||||||
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Remuneration in respect of audit services provided by auditors |
59 | 58 | 60 | |||||||||
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