The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (July 30) that the total assets of the Exchange Fund amounted to HK$4,566.6 billion as at June 30, 2021, HK$19.3 billion higher than that at the end of May 2021. Foreign currency assets increased by HK$20.5 billion while Hong Kong dollar assets decreased by HK$1.2 billion.
 
     The rise in foreign currency assets was mainly due to an increase in the month-end balances of unsettled purchase of securities and the issuance of Certificates of Indebtedness. The decline in Hong Kong dollar assets was mainly due to the mark-to-market revaluation on Hong Kong equities.
 
     The Currency Board Account shows that the Monetary Base at the end of June 2021 was HK$2,118.1 billion, increased by HK$7.5 billion, or 0.4 per cent, from the end of May 2021. The rise was mainly due to an increase in the outstanding amount of Certificates of Indebtedness.
 
     The amount of Backing Assets increased by HK$8.4 billion, or 0.4 per cent, to HK$2,329.7 billion. The increase was mainly attributable to the issuance of Certificates of Indebtedness. At the end of June 2021, the backing ratio remained unchanged at 109.99 per cent.

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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 July 2021, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced today (July 30) the results of its survey on residential mortgage loans (RMLs) in negative equity at end-June 2021.
  
     The estimated number of RMLs in negative equity decreased to five cases at end-June 2021 from 67 cases at end-March 2021. These cases were related to bank staff housing loans or RMLs under mortgage insurance programme, which generally have a higher loan-to-value ratio.
 
     The aggregate value of RMLs in negative equity decreased to HK$21 million at end-June 2021 compared with HK$379 million at end-March 2021.
 
     The unsecured portion of these loans decreased to HK$1 million at end-June 2021 from HK$10 million at end-March 2021.
 
     Since the first quarter of 2011, there have been no RMLs in negative equity with delinquencies of more than three months.
 
     It is important to note that the figures derived from this survey relate only to RMLs provided by authorised institutions on the basis of first mortgages and which the reporting institution knows to be in negative equity (i.e. the outstanding loan amount with the reporting institution exceeds the current market value of the mortgaged property). Not included in these figures are RMLs associated with co-financing schemes which would be in negative equity if the second mortgages were taken into account. The extent to which such RMLs are in negative equity is not known because authorised institutions do not maintain records on the outstanding balances of the second mortgages. 
 
     The mortgage portfolios of the surveyed authorised institutions represent about 99 per cent of the industry total. The survey results have been extrapolated to estimate the position of the banking sector as a whole. 

     The Geospatial Lab (GeoLab) officially opened today (July 30). The opening ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Wong said the establishment of the GeoLab is one of the major initiatives of the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure. The lab has "Geospatial" as its theme and is equipped with advanced technology and training facilities. Through the integration of education, experience and practice, it will help raise public interest in spatial data, and explore together with the community the value and application of spatial data in support of smart city development.

     The GeoLab is located at Millennium City I in Kwun Tong and has an area of 3 000 square feet. The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals has been selected as the operator through an open tender. The GeoLab will provide fitted-out working space and coaching services to support experimental projects using spatial data and conduct activities such as competitions, workshops and talks. Complementing the Government's emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, the GeoLab will regularly hold talks and practical classes for schools to help students master geospatial technology and knowledge, and to enhance their understanding of how to apply spatial data for innovative applications.

     The GeoLab is open from 9.30am to 1pm and from 2.15pm to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday (except public holidays). For more information, please visit its website (www.csdigeolab.gov.hk) or call 3708 7260.

      

​The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:

     The Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo Non-official Members) today (July 30) expressed their warmest congratulations to Hong Kong swimming athlete Siobhan Bernadette Haughey for winning another silver medal for Hong Kong in the Women's 100m Freestyle at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. They also expressed their heartfelt gratitude to her coach and the swimming team.

     The Convenor of the ExCo Non-official Members, Mr Bernard Chan, said, "With tireless efforts, Siobhan Bernadette Haughey showed great perseverance and unswerving spirit during the race. We are thrilled that she not only achieved an excellent result for Hong Kong, but once again broke the Asian record and became the first Hong Kong athlete to grab two medals in the same Olympic Games. She has undergone arduous training and striven to achieve breakthroughs throughout the years. Her indomitable spirit as an athlete is admirable."

     The ExCo Non-official Members hope that the Hong Kong, China Delegation will keep up their efforts and strive for excellence in the coming events.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 30) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).

     Sixteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 24 as Fair (Grade 2).

Grade 1 beaches are:

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

     Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria New Beach, Discovery Bay and Trio Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1; Anglers' Beach, Castle Peak Beach, Silver Mine Bay Beach and Ting Kau Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Kwun Yam Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

     "The changes 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, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), 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.

     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 EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

Note 1: Lifeguard services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 18 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk above, from July 17.

Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.