Hong Kong Dollar (HKD): What it is, How it Works

What Is the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)?

HKD is the abbreviation for the Hong Kong dollar, the official currency of Hong Kong, which is one of the most traded currencies globally. The HKD is used in both Hong Kong and the neighboring territory of Macau, whose currency, the pataca, is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar.

Understanding the HKD (Hong Kong Dollar)

The Hong Kong dollar is made up of 100 cents and is often shown with the HK$ prefix to differentiate it from other dollar-denominated currencies. Hong Kong is a leading global financial center and its economy is considered to be the freest in the world.

The Hong Kong dollar was first seen as a distinct currency in 1863. Before then, various foreign currencies had been used and continued to be used even after the HKD's inception. The Hong Kong dollar was outlawed by the Japanese puppet government in 1943 and reinstated in 1945 after World War II. Hong Kong is now in sole control of the printing and administration of its currency, which is controlled by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).

In 1972, the HK dollar was pegged to the U.S. dollar at a rate of HK$5.65 to $1 USD. Since then, it has remained pegged to the dollar, with the HKMA adjusting its value from time to time. The Hong Kong dollar has been pegged to a narrow trading band, which currently ranges between HK$7.7500 and HK$7.8500 per USD. If, and when, the HKD hits either the upper or lower bound, the HKMA, which acts as the de facto central bank, intervenes to stabilize the currency.

This trading band versus the USD has been in place since 1983, although the upper and lower limits have been adjusted periodically. The HKMA has about $450 billion+ USD in foreign reserves to thwart any attempts to break the peg with the USD. One notable attempt was made by legendary hedge fund manager George Soros in 1998.

The HKD is the ninth most traded currency, and because it is pegged to the U.S. dollar, with upper and lower limits, it does not exhibit any strong unique correlations with other currencies.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)

Established in 1993, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority is the central bank of the island and acts to control inflation and maintain the stability of the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) and of the banking sector through its monetary policy.

One of the key roles of the HKMA is maintaining currency stability. The linked exchange rate system is designed to stabilize the exchange rate between the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) and the United States dollar (USD). The fixed exchange rate system seeks to maintain parity with the USD within a tight range, allowing HKD note-issuing banks to issue new banknotes only when they deposit an equivalent value of U.S. dollars with the authority.

Three Chinese note-issuing banks—Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, and the Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited—are also authorized to issue Hong Kong dollars, subject to conditions laid out by the Hong Kong government. Banknotes are then run through a government exchange fund that holds U.S. dollars in reserves and records all transactions in the general accounts of the two currencies. Under capital control laws, a bank can only use HK dollars if it has the equivalent value of U.S. dollars on deposit.