International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released today (February 27) the analytical data on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's foreign currency reserves and foreign currency liquidity as at the end of January2026 (Annex). These data are published monthly in the Template on International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity in accordance with the International Monetary Fund's Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS).
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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 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 2026, the scheduled dates for issuing the press releases are as follows:
February 6
(Issued) |
SDDS International Reserves
(Hong Kong's Latest Foreign Currency Reserve Assets Figures) |
February 13
(Issued) |
SDDS Analytical Accounts of the Central Bank
(Analytical Accounts of the Exchange Fund) |
February27 |
SDDS Template on International Reserves and
Foreign Currency Liquidity |
February27 |
Exchange Fund Abridged Balance Sheet and
Currency Board Account |
Source: AI-found images
Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (February 27) released the latest grading of water quality for six gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming.
Four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and two as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Clear Water Bay Second Beach |
Golden Beach |
Deep Water Bay Beach |
Silverstrand Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
Casam Beach |
Lido Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the EPD's dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast).
