HONG KONG -- The Exchange Fund's foreign assets increased HK$82.9 billion ($10.68 billion) to HK$2.51 trillion at the end of January, Hong Kong's Monetary Authority announced Friday.

The Monetary Base at the end of January amounted to HK$1.23 trillion. Claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to HK$179.4 billion.

Foreign liabilities, representing fees payable to the fund's external managers, amounted to HK$600 million.