May. 15, 2012 (China Knowledge) - The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Hong Kong's de facto central bank, announced that the foreign assets of Hong Kong's Exchange Fund decreased by HK$5.5 billion in April to HK$2.24 trillion.

The HKMA said that Hong Kong's monetary base amounted to HK$1.09 trillion. The monetary base includes certificates of indebtedness, government-issued currency notes and coins in circulation, the aggregate balance and exchange fund bills and notes issued.

The authority also said claims on the private sector in the special administrative region stood at HK$135.1billion at the end of last month. Foreign liabilities, representing fees payable to the Exchange Fund's external managers, were HK$300 million.
 
In 2011, Hong Kong's Exchange Fund booked a net investment income of HK$22.3 billion, or investment return of only 1.1%.