The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 12) reported the latest number of dengue fever (DF) cases, and urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and … read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released today (July 12) the key analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund at the end of June 2024.
Foreign assets, representing the external assets of the Exchange Fund, decreased during the month by HK$13.3 billion to HK$3,454.7 billion.
The Monetary Base, comprising Certificates of Indebtedness, Government‑issued currency notes and coins in circulation, the balance of the banking system and Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued, amounted to HK$1,927.4 billion.
Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to HK$296.3 billion.
Foreign liabilities amounted to HK$22.2 billion.
The analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund are released in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) and are referred to as the Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank under SDDS (Annex).
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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 July 2024, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
| July 5 (Issued) |
SDDS International Reserves (Hong Kong’s Latest Foreign Currency Reserve Assets Figures) |
| July 12 | SDDS Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank (Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund) |
| July 31 | SDDS Template on International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity |
| July 31 | Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account |
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board (the Board) today (July 12) published its Annual Report for 2023-2024. The Report highlights the key achievements of the Board in 2023-2024, which include the completion of the public consultation on a package of proposals to enhance the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS or the Scheme) and the issuance of conclusions to the consultation. With the passage of the Deposit Protection Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2024 by the Legislative Council on July 3, 2024, the enhancement measures will be implemented in two phases on October 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025. The Report also highlights the Board’s efforts in promoting public awareness and understanding of the DPS, which contributed to a historic high level of public awareness of the Scheme in 2023.
The Annual Report 2023-2024 is available on the Board’s website (www.dps.org.hk). read more
A red tide was sighted over the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (July 12).
On July 10, staff of the Environmental Protection Department spotted a red tide in Tseung Kwan O. The red tide still persists and no associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.
A spokesman for the working group said, “The red tide was formed by Pseudo-nitzschia pungens, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic.”
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Po Toi O and Tung Lung Chau fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD’s proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public. read more
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, July 12, 2024 is 106.4 (down 0.2 against yesterday’s index). read more