The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released today (February 11) the key analytical accounts of the Exchange Fund at the end of January 2021.
 
     Foreign assets, representing the external assets of the Exchange Fund, increased during the month by HK$11.1 billion to HK$4,018.7 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$2,115.9 billion.
 
     Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to HK$223.1 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 February 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 (HKMA) announced today (February 11) the progress made in its handling of banking complaints received as at end-January 2021. Banking complaints include cases concerning general banking services and conduct-related issues.
      
     In January 2021, 245 cases were received and the handling of 171 cases was completed. As at end-January, the handling of 625 cases was in progress. 
      
     A table summarising the progress made in the handling of banking complaints by the HKMA is attached.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued today (February 11) a tentative issuance schedule for Exchange Fund Bills and Notes (EFBNs) for the coming quarter of April to June 2021. The schedule contains information on the tentative tender dates, issue sizes and issue dates of individual issues, representing rollover of maturing issues and taking into account planned adjustments to the maturity spectrum of the EFBN portfolio.

     The quarterly schedule is issued in the second month of each quarter (i.e. February, May, August and November), covering the EFBN tenders in the following quarter.
      
     It should be noted that the tender dates, issue sizes and issue dates projected in the advance issuance schedule are tentative. The details of new issues of Exchange Fund Bills are to be confirmed and announced at least four business days prior to the respective tender dates. The details of new issues of Exchange Fund Notes are to be confirmed and announced seven business days prior to their respective tender dates. The HKMA may make changes in the light of prevailing market conditions.

     The following is issued on behalf of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency:

     In light of the Government's announcement on the full resumption of normal public services from February 18, the service counters of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (WFSFAA) will resume normal service hours on the same day. 

     The service counters of the Student Finance Office (SFO) will be open from Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.45pm. The service counters of the Working Family Allowance Office (WFAO) will also be open from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday. 
 
     To reduce the flow of people and social contact, the WFSFAA continued to appeal to applicants for student finance schemes, the Working Family Allowance Scheme and the Individual-based Work Incentive Transport Subsidy Scheme to submit their applications by post, online or through the drop-in boxes at the SFO and the WFAO. Applicants for student loans are encouraged to make prior bookings through the online system of the SFO. Persons who visit the offices of the WFSFAA should wear surgical masks at all times, and comply with its infection control measures including temperature checks, using the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app and crowd control arrangements.

     Members of the public may contact the WFSFAA for enquiries through the following channels:

1. Student Finance Office: Email (wg_sfo@wfsfaa.gov.hk); general hotline (2802 2345); cheque payment collection hotline (2150 6220); and

2. Working Family Allowance Office: Email (enquiry_wfao@wfsfaa.gov.hk); hotline (2558 3000).

     A Government spokesman said today (February 11) that the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Andy Chan, has tendered his resignation for health reasons. He is currently on leave, and will leave the Government with effect from February 28. 

     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, thanked Mr Andy Chan for his contribution during his tenure and wished him a healthy and happy life.