Monetary Statistics for April 2005

According to statistics published today (Tuesday) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorized institutions increased by 0.4% in April 2005. Of the total, Hong Kong dollar and foreign currency deposits rose by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively. Within foreign currency deposits, renminbi deposits amounted to RMB16.7 billion yuan in April, compared with RMB15.0 billion yuan in March.

Total loans and advances expanded by 1.0% in April, as a rise of 1.2% in loans for use in Hong Kong outweighed a decline of 1.0% in loans for use outside Hong Kong. Analysed by currency, Hong Kong dollar and foreign currency loans both increased. As Hong Kong dollar loans increased more than Hong Kong dollar deposits, the loan-to-deposit ratio rose to 85.1% in April.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, Hong Kong dollar M1 fell by 2.0% in April and by 0.9% from a year ago. Unadjusted Hong Kong dollar M2 and M3 both rose by 0.3% during the month, and by 7.7% and 7.5% respectively from a year earlier.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Jasmin Fung, Manager (Press), at 2878 8246 or
Hing-Fung Wong, Resource Co-ordinator, at 2878 1802

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
31 May 2005

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