Hong Kong Money

Since 1983 Hong Kong has pegged its currency to the US dollar through a currency board system that is unique among the world's advanced economies. In this first comprehensive book about Hong Kong's monetary system, Tony Latter draws on his considerable experience in central banking generally, and with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in particular, to give a detailed account of how the system operates; why it was introduced; what are the important differences from other monetary regimes; and how it has performed. After a brief overview of Hong Kong's currency board system, two chapters explain the key features of mainstream monetary policy as practised in most economies and how the currency board differs. Then three chapters deal with the history of money in Hong Kong from the mid-1930s, describing the salient events and changes of the period up to the 1983 crisis and the consequent re-adoption of the currency board. Descriptions of the functioning of the system after 1983 and its evolution to the present day then follow. The book concludes with assessments of the performance of the currency board since 1983 and of the Hong Kong economy more widely. This book is designed both to inform lay readers and to provide substance for monetary economists. Given the key role of monetary policy in providing a stable foundation for a strong economy, the book is of importance for all business people in Hong Kong, while the more analytical sections provide essential reading for all students of economics.

The financial markets of Hong Kong have a reputation for volatility, but careful analysis of past behaviour reveals consistent trends and coherent actions. This study, first published in 1991, at a time of uncertainty before Hong Kong’s transfer to China in 1997, analyses each of the financial markets in the colony, and explains the activities of banks, deposit-taking companies, the stock exchange, and markets in capital, gold, futures, unit trusts, and foreign exchange. Examining these in terms of structure, regulation and in competition, it constitutes not just a description but a thorough analysis of the characteristic dynamics of each market.

Hong Kong’s Link to the US Dollar covers the origins of the city’s currency crisis in 1983, the initial resolution of the crisis by creation of a traditional currency board, the subsequent problems leading to the Asian financial crisis of 1997–98, and the later reforms. A new final chapter traces monetary developments in Hong Kong between 2005 and 2020. This valuable compendium of articles, originally written in the bimonthly journal Asian Monetary Monitor between 1981 and 1989, includes the key article that formed the basis for the Hong Kong government’s decision in 1983 to peg the currency to the US dollar, as well as other important documents of historical record. The main contribution of the book is its detailed monetary analysis of Hong Kong’s unique financial system before and after the currency crisis of 1983. The book explains the collapse of the floating Hong Kong dollar under the pressure of capital outflows during the Sino-British negotiations (1982–84) over the future of Hong Kong, the fascinating story of the introduction of the linked rate system pegging the Hong Kong dollar to the US dollar, and the subsequent gradual process of reform and refinement of the currency board mechanism (1988–2020). Hong Kong’s Link to the US Dollar will enable readers to obtain a comprehensive picture of why the linked rate system was put in place, how it works, and how it has been strengthened over the years. The second edition extends the discussion to 2020. Hong Kong’s Link to the US Dollar covers the origins of the city’s currency crisis in 1983, the initial resolution of the crisis by creation of a traditional currency board, the subsequent problems leading to the Asian financial crisis of 1997–98, and the later reforms. A new final chapter traces monetary developments in Hong Kong between 2005 and 2020. This valuable compendium of articles, originally written in the bimonthly journal Asian Monetary Monitor between 1981 and 1989, includes the key article that formed the basis for the Hong Kong government’s decision in 1983 to peg the currency to the US dollar, as well as other important documents of historical record. The main contribution of the book is its detailed monetary analysis of Hong Kong’s unique financial system before and after the currency crisis of 1983. The book explains the collapse of the floating Hong Kong dollar under the pressure of capital outflows during the Sino-British negotiations (1982–84) over the future of Hong Kong, the fascinating story of the introduction of the linked rate system pegging the Hong Kong dollar to the US dollar, and the subsequent gradual process of reform and refinement of the currency board mechanism (1988–2020). Hong Kong’s Link to the US Dollar will enable readers to obtain a comprehensive picture of why the linked rate system was put in place, how it works, and how it has been strengthened over the years. The second edition extends the discussion to 2020.

Prepared by the East Asian Institute, NUS, which promotes research on East Asian developments particularly the political, economic and social development of contemporary China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan), this series of research reports is intended for policy makers and readers who want to keep abreast of the latest developments in China.

Hong Kong SAR is now highly unusual as a large economy running a currency board system that pegs the Hong Kong Dollar to the US Dollar. This volume explores the origins and persistence of this system, presenting the viewpoint of several of the main protagonists in the operation of the currency board since 1983 as well as new research by academics.