The Hong Kong Exchange Fund's foreign assets amounted to 1.02 trillion HK dollars (US$132.2 billion) at the end of September, up 28.2 billion HK dollars (US$3.64 billion) compared with August, announced the Monetary Authority of Hong Kong on Monday.

According to the Monetary Authority, the monetary base amounted to 304 billion HK dollars (US$39.26 billion), which 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 in Hong Kong amounted to 86.5 billion HK dollars (US$11.17 billion), while foreign liabilities, representing mainly obligations under repurchase agreements, amounted to 1.8 billion HK dollars (US$230 million).

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2007)