China's Ministry of Finance announced on August 17 its third and largest yuan-denominated treasury bond issue in Hong Kong.

The amount totaling 20 billion yuan ($3.13 billion) exceeded the aggregate of bond issuance in Hong Kong in the past, including 6 billion yuan ($937.5 million) and 8 billion yuan ($1.25 billion) in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

Analysts expected the move to both diversify yuan investment options and boost the yuan bond market.

In the long run, with Hong Kong's status as an offshore yuan center confirmed by the Central Government, it is of highly supportive significance.