At the end of September, the external assets of Hong Kong's Exchange Fund amounted to $824.6 billion, an increase of $5.4 billion over the previous month.

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 $257.9 billion.

Claims on the Hong Kong private sector amounted to $44.2 billion.

Foreign liabilities, representing mainly obligations under repurchase agreements, amounted to $9.6 billion.