The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (July 31) that the total assets of the Exchange Fund amounted to HK$3,978.6 billion as at June 30, 2024, HK$0.6 billion lower than that at the end of May 2024. Hong Kong dollar assets decreased by HK$3.6 billion while foreign currency assets increased by HK$3.0 billion.
      
     The decline in Hong Kong dollar assets was mainly due to mark-to-market revaluation of Hong Kong equities. The rise in foreign currency assets was mainly due to an increase in the month-end balances of unsettled purchase of securities, interest income from investments and mark-to-market revaluation of investments, which were partly offset by withdrawals of Fiscal Reserves placements.
      
     The Currency Board Account shows that the Monetary Base at the end of June 2024 was HK$1,927.4 billion, increased by HK$8.3 billion, or 0.4 per cent, from the end of May 2024. The increase was mainly due to amortisation of discount on Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued and the increase in the outstanding amount of Certificates of Indebtedness.
      
     The amount of Backing Assets increased by HK$12.1 billion, or 0.6 per cent, to HK$2,147.2 billion at the end of June 2024. The increase was mainly attributable to interest from investments and the issuance of Certificates of Indebtedness. The Backing Ratio increased from 111.26 per cent at the end of May 2024 to 111.41 per cent at the end of June 2024.

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     At present, four press releases relating to the Exchange Fund's data are issued by the HKMA each month. Three of these releases are issued to disseminate monetary data in accordance with the International Monetary Fund's Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS). The fourth press release, on the Exchange Fund's Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account, is made in accordance with the HKMA's policy of maintaining a high level of transparency. For the month of July 2024, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 is 105.8 (down 0.5 against yesterday's index).

     â€‹The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau held the second training on district governance for the seventh-term District Councils (DCs) at the Central Government Offices today (July 31).
 
     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, and the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, delivered remarks at the training session. Mr Chan expressed full recognition of the work of the members of the seventh-term DCs since their taking up of office. He said that the current-term DCs had closer connections with their districts and their services were more professional. Mr Chan reminded that DC members' work in serving and advancing the welfare of people is the starting point and objective of district governance. The improved district governance system and reformed DCs should function effectively to keep enhancing people's sense of achievement, satisfaction and security. Mr Cheuk encouraged all DC members to serve as the communication link between the Government and people, and continue to complement the work of the Steering Committee on District Governance and the Task Force on District Governance by reflecting the district issues that are of people's concern to the Government and ensuring effective communication between the Government and people.
 
     The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, hosted the training session, during which three experienced former DC members and current members of the Legislative Council, Hon Lee Chun-keung, Hon Kwok Wai-keung and Hon Lau Kwok-fan, were invited to share their experiences and advice on district work. Miss Mak noted the current challenges in district governance work, and drew on her own experience to outline the roles and responsibilities of a DC member, and reminded members to act with an unfailing sense of responsibility at all times, and the assurance to deliver in everything they do. They should proactively reach out to people and resolve different livelihood and district issues. Hon Lee, Hon Kwok and Hon Lau explained to members how best to handle district governance work, and shared their past experiences as DC members in dealing with district affairs.
 
   Miss Mak and the three speakers then exchanged views with the DC members on the questions they raised at the training session, and provided advice on how DC members could provide better services to people.

        

     â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 5 400 food samples tested were found to be satisfactory except for five unsatisfactory samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.
 
     A CFS spokesman said about 1 500 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 3 900 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests.
 
     The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions.
 
     The samples comprised about 1 900 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 500 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 500 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 900 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 700 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 900 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).
   
     The five unsatisfactory samples comprised an oyster sample and a frozen sole sample with excessive metallic contaminant; a prepackaged frozen shrimp sample found to contain nitrofuran metabolite; a bottled preserved bean curd sample found with excessive Bacillus cereus, and a bottled coconut drink sample in breach of food labelling regulations.
 
     The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items and tracing the sources of the food items in question.
 
     The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.
 
     Separately, as the Japanese Government has commenced the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CSF will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Public Finance Limited relating to a fraudulent website and a social media page, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or social media page concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.