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Author Archives: hksar gov

Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (January 28) that the total assets of the Exchange Fund amounted to HK$4,082.4 billion as at December 31, 2024, HK$55.7 billion higher than that at the end of November 2024. Hong Kong dollar assets increased by HK$110.7 billion while foreign currency assets decreased by HK$55.0 billion.
      
     The rise in Hong Kong dollar assets was mainly due to the increase in Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued but not yet settled at month end. The decline in foreign currency assets was mainly due to reduction in the month-end balances of unsettled purchase of securities and mark-to-market revaluation of investments.
      
     The Currency Board Account shows that the Monetary Base at the end of December 2024 was HK$1,957.6 billion, increased by HK$7.4 billion, or 0.4 per cent, from the end of November 2024. The increase was mainly due to the amortisation of discount on Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued and increase in the outstanding amount of Certificates of Indebtedness.
      
     The amount of Backing Assets increased by HK$3.6 billion, or 0.2 per cent, to HK$2,144.6 billion at the end of December 2024. The increase was mainly attributable to interest income from investments and the issuance of Certificates of Indebtedness, which were partly offset by mark-to-market revaluation of investments. The Backing Ratio decreased from 109.79 per cent at the end of November 2024 to 109.56 per cent at the end of December 2024.
      
     The figures in the Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and the Currency Board Account are unaudited. The audit of the Exchange Fund’s annual financial statements by the Director of Audit is in progress.

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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 January 2025, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
 

January 7
 (Issued)		 SDDS International Reserves
(Hong Kong’s Latest Foreign Currency Reserve Assets Figures) 
January 14
 (Issued)		 SDDS Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank
(Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund) 
January 28 SDDS Template on International Reserves and
Foreign Currency Liquidity 
January 28 Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and
Currency Board Account 
read more

East Asia

Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 28) released the latest grading of water quality for six gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming.
 
     Six beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
  
Grade 1 beaches are:          

Casam Beach Golden Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Lido Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach Silverstrand Beach
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
 
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
 
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the EPD’s dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast). read more

East Asia

International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released today (January 28) the analytical data on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s foreign currency reserves and foreign currency liquidity as at the end of December 2024 (Annex). These data are published monthly in the Template on International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS).

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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 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 January 2025, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
 

January 7
(Issued)		 SDDS International Reserves
(Hong Kong’s Latest Foreign Currency Reserve Assets Figures)
January 14
(Issued)		 SDDS Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank
(Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund)
January 28 SDDS Template on International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity
January 28 Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account
read more

East Asia