HONG KONG, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's total assets of the exchange fund stood at 1.65 trillion HK dollars by April 30, 2009, 41.5 billion HK dollars more than the amount at the end of March, the Monetary Authority said Friday.

    Foreign currency assets rose 34.5 billion HK dollars and Hong Kong dollar assets grew by 7 billion HK dollars.

    The rise in foreign-currency assets was mainly due to purchases of foreign currencies with Hong Kong dollars and valuation gains on foreign-currency investments, while the rise in Hong Kong dollar assets was due to an increase in the balance of the banking system and valuation gains on Hong Kong equities held by the exchange fund.

    The currency board account shows the monetary base at the end of April was 618.8 billion HK dollars, 8.6 percent higher than at the end of March. The rise was largely prompted by increases in the aggregate balance and certificates of indebtedness.

Special Report:  Global Financial Crisis