HONG KONG, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's exchange fund foreign assets recorded an increase of 54.5 billion HK dollars ( about 7.03 billion U.S. dollars) in December 2009, the Monetary Authority (HKMA) said Thursday.

    According to the agency, HK's total foreign assets, representing the external assets of the exchange fund, reached 1.907 trillion HK dollars (about 246 billion U.S. dollars) by the end of December 2009.

    The Monetary Base, comprising Certificates of Indebtedness, Government issued currency notes and coins in circulation, the Aggregate Balance and Exchange Fund Bills and Notes issued, amounted to 1.0107 trillion HK dollars (about 130.45 billion U.S. dollars).

    Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to 80.7 billion HK dollars (about 10.42 U.S. dollars).

    Foreign liabilities, representing mainly obligations under repurchase agreements, reached 400 million HK dollars (about 51.6 million U.S. dollars).