The Exchange Fund's foreign assets amounted to 1.272 trillion HK dollars (US$164.21 billion) in January, down 500 million HK dollars (US$64.55 million) from December, the Monetary Authority of Hong Kong said on Monday.
The Monetary Base amounted to 541.5 billion HK dollars (US$69.91 billion), 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.
Claims on the private sector amounted to 160.1 billion HK dollars (US$20.67 billion).
(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2009)