The Exchange Fund's foreign assets of Hong Kong amounted to 1.154 trillion HK dollars (148 billion US dollars) at the end of February, up 18.2 billion on January, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said Friday.

The Monetary Base, comprising certificates of indebtedness, government issued currency notes and coins in circulation, the aggregate balance of the banking system and Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued, amounted to 331.3 billion HK dollars.

Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to 117.6 billion HK dollars. Foreign liabilities, representing mainly obligations under repurchase agreements, amounted to 1.7 billion HK dollars, said the authority. Enditem (One US dollar = 7.775 HK dollars)

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2008)