At the end of August, the Exchange Fund's foreign assets were down $13.9 billion, the Monetary Authority says.

Foreign assets, representing the Exchange Fund's external assets, amounted to $856.7 billion.

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 $277.7 billion.

Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to HK$67.6 billion.

Foreign liabilities, representing mainly obligations under repurchase agreements, amounted to $5.9 billion.