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 (March 31) that the total assets of the Exchange Fund amounted to HK$4,009.0billion as at February 28, 2025, HK$102.9 billion lower than that at the end of January 2025. Hong Kong dollar assets decreased by HK$76.0 billion and foreign currency assets decreased by HK$26.9 billion.
The decline in Hong Kong dollar assets was mainly due to the decrease in Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued but not yet settled at month end. The decline in foreign currency assets was mainly due to withdrawals of Fiscal Reserves placements and the redemption of Certificates of Indebtedness, which were partly offset by an increase in the month-end balances of unsettled purchase of securities and interest income from investments.
The Currency Board Account shows that the Monetary Base at the end of February 2025 was HK$1,975.9 billion, decreased by HK$19.0 billion, or 1.0 per cent, from the end of January 2025. The decline was mainly due to the decrease in the outstanding amount of Certificates of Indebtedness, which was partly offset by amortisation of discount on Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued.
The amount of Backing Assets decreased by HK$13.7 billion, or 0.6per cent, to HK$2,178.8 billion at the end of February 2025. The decrease was mainly attributable to the redemption of Certificates of Indebtedness, which was partly offset by interest income from investments and mark-to-market revaluation of investments. The Backing Ratio increased from 109.90per cent at the end of January 2025 to 110.27per cent at the end of February 2025.
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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 March 2025, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
March 7
(Issued)
SDDS International Reserves
(Hong Kong's Latest Foreign Currency Reserve Assets Figures)
March 14
(Issued)
SDDS Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank
(Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund)
March 31
SDDS Template on International Reserves and
Foreign Currency Liquidity
March 31
Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and
Currency Board Account
SCST commences visit to Beijing
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, commenced her visit to Beijing today (April 2). She called on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO) and the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC).
Miss Law briefed the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the HKMAO, Mr Xia Baolong, on the major work in the last four months and future plans of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB). She expressed sincere gratitude to Mr Xia and the HKMAO for their guidance and unwavering support. Mr Xia encouraged the Secretary to lead the CSTB in taking forward its duties by staying principled and innovative, to utilise the rich local resources in tourism in particular and pursue innovation, with a view to telling the good stories of Hong Kong.
Also joining the visit to Beijing are the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum; the Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs Angelina Cheung; the Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong), Mr Yeung Tak-keung; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; the Deputy Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Winnie Tse; the Commissioner for Sports, Mr George Tsoi; and the Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Mr Victor Tsang.
Accompanied by the delegation, Miss Law called on the Minister of the GASC, Mr Gao Zhidan, and briefed him on the preparatory work of the 15th National Games and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games in Hong Kong. Asserting that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region attaches great importance to the mega sports event co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the first time, Miss Law said not only does it demonstrate Hong Kong’s ability in hosting major sports events, but it also deepens collaboration between the three places and promotes development of the Greater Bay Area, laying the foundation for hosting more mega events in future.
In the afternoon, Miss Law and the delegation visited the Museum of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and met with the Director of the Museum, Mr Li Zongyuan. Miss Law said it was the second time she visited the Museum and she had a stronger impression this time. Noting that Hong Kong is planning for the construction of a museum to showcase the development and achievements of the country, Miss Law said the content of the Museum of the CPC’s permanent exhibition matches with one of the themes about the CPC’s history and development in the museum-in-planning. She hoped that support and professional guidance from the Museum of the CPC could be given in future exhibitions and collaborations.
At night, Miss Law and some members of the delegation watched a performance by Wiener Symphoniker at the National Centre for the Performing Arts to experience high-level arts and cultural exchanges.
Miss Law and the delegation will continue their visit to Beijing tomorrow (April 3).
SCST commences visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SCST commences visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SCST commences visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
