The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, May 27, 2022 is 99.4 (down 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in April showed a drop of 1 384 cases, representing a decrease of 0.6 per cent compared with that of March, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department today (May 19).

     The total CSSA caseload at the end of April stood at 215 304 (see attached table), with a total of 299 544 recipients.

     Analysed by case nature, low-earnings cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 2.8 per cent to 2 122 cases. Old age cases dropped by 0.8 per cent to 122 436 cases. Single parent cases decreased by 0.4 per cent to 23 567 cases. Ill-health cases were down by 0.3 per cent to 26 924 cases. Permanent disability cases slightly decreased by 0.2 per cent to 17 430 cases.

     Unemployment cases decreased by 0.4 per cent on a month-to-month basis to 18 796 cases. The figure represented an increase of about 49.3 per cent in comparison with that of January 2020 when Hong Kong just started to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The average number of applications for unemployment cases in February to April 2022 was 532 per month, representing a decrease of 0.4 per cent from that in January to March 2022.

     In light of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from sewage samples collected in Tuen Mun, Islands and North Districts, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (May 18) that the Tuen Mun District Office (TMDO), Islands District Office (IsDO) and North District Office (NDO) will distribute a total of about 273 000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Districts.
 
    The TMDO and the IsDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Terrace Concerto, Tai Hing Gardens Phase 1 and 2, Hong Tak Gardens, Greenland Garden, Chelsea Heights, Nerine Cove, Glorious Garden and The Sea Crest in Tuen Mun District and Caribbean Coast, Coastal Skyline and Seaview Crescent in Islands District for voluntary testing through the property management companies.
    
     The NDO today also started to distribute rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Tin Ping Estate, Hop Fung Building, Wo Fung House, The Cornwall, Ho King House, Fu Ho Mansion, Fu Yin Building, Po Hon Lau, Po Cheung Building, Po Luen Building, Kin Fung Building, San Wah Bank Building, Cheong Wah Building, Lok Fung Building, Tai Cheong House, Pun Yuen Building, May Lun Building, Luen Wo Centre, Luen Cheong Building, Louver Mansion, Fung King Building, Kam Loi House, Comfort Court, Yau Hing Building, 41-53 Wo Tai Street, 53-55 Wo Fung Street, 53-55 Luen Wo Road, 2-4, 14-16 and 17-35B Luen Cheong Street and 18-36B Luen Shing Street for voluntary testing through the property management companies.
    
     The HAD made the above arrangements in the hope of identifying infected persons early.
         
     Members of the public may refer to the demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) under the Department of Health (DH) via www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk to learn how to use the rapid antigen test (RAT) kit.
         
     Persons testing positive through an RAT should take a photo of the test result and declare the result within 24 hours via the Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp). If members of the public encounter difficulties in using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The CHP under the DH will contact the relevant person later to complete the report procedure. There is no need to declare negative test results.
         
     The Government appeals for the co-operation of members of the public to safeguard the health of themselves and their families by undergoing testing on a voluntary basis and fighting the virus together. The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.

      

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

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released today (May 13) the key analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund at the end of April 2022.

     Foreign assets, representing the external assets of the Exchange Fund, decreased during the month by HK$119.6 billion to HK$3,844.8 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$2,153.1 billion.

     Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to HK$307.7 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 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 May 2022, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows: