STH visits Kowloon City District
The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, visited Kowloon City District this afternoon (June 14). Accompanied by the Chairman of the Kowloon City District Council, Mr Pun Kwok-wah, … read more
Tag Archives: China
Analytical Accounts of Exchange Fund
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released today (June 14) the key analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund at the end of May 2019.
Foreign assets, representing the external assets of the Exchange Fund, increased during the month by HK$9.9 billion to HK$3,602.7 billion.
The Monetary Base, comprising Certificates of Indebtedness, Government‑issued currency notes and coins in circulation, the balance of the banking system and Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued, amounted to HK$1,623.6 billion.
Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to HK$247.3 billion.
The analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund are released in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) and are referred to as the Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank under SDDS (Annex).
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At present, four press releases relating to the Exchange Fund’s data are issued by the HKMA each month. Three of these releases are issued to disseminate monetary data in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS). The fourth press release, on the Exchange Fund’s Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account, is made in accordance with the HKMA’s policy of maintaining a high level of transparency. For the month of June 2019, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
| June 6 (Issued) |
SDDS International Reserves (Hong Kong’s Latest Foreign Currency Reserve Assets Figures) |
| June 14 |
SDDS Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank (Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund) |
| June 28 |
SDDS Template on International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity |
| June 28 |
Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and Currency Board Account |
Progress in the handling of banking complaints by HKMA
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (June 14) the progress made in its handling of banking complaints received as at … read more
Appeal for information on missing girl in Wong Tai Sin (with photo)
Police today (June 14) appealed to the public for information on a girl who went missing in Wong Tai Sin. Lee Man-hei, aged 15, went missing after she wa… read more
Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 14) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay*).
Fourteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2), nine as Poor (Grade 3) and one as Very Poor (Grade 4).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Discovery Bay | St Stephen’s Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Trio Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Golden Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Anglers’ Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Approach Beach | Lido Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Casam Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach |
Grade 4 beach is:
| Big Wave Bay Beach** |
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
** Big Wave Bay Beach has been temporarily closed since June 4 due to urgent works by the Drainage Services Department at a nearby stream and the very poor (Grade 4) water quality measured by the EPD. The beach will be closed until further notice.
Compared with the grading released last week, Stanley Main Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Silver Mine Bay Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Kwun Yam Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Deep Water Bay Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3.
“Big Wave Bay Beach has been rated as Very Poor (Grade 4) since June 5, which was largely due to the recent unsteady weather and frequent heavy rain. The changes in other beaches are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches,” an EPD spokesman said.
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. read more