News
11 August 2004
Special Stamp Issue - "Hong Kong Currency"
The Acting Postmaster General, Mrs. Joanna CHOI, announced today (11 August 2004) that a set of special stamps on "Hong Kong Currency" which showcases selected currency circulated in Hong Kong during the past 140 years will be issued on Thursday, 2 September 2004.
The stamps are designed by Mr. Benny LAU and printed in lithography by Joh. Enschede B.V., the Netherlands. This set of special stamps comprises four mint stamps, a souvenir sheet and a stamp sheetlet. The stamps depict:
- the first Hong Kong coin (one mil, one thousandth of a dollar) cast in bronze in 1863 ($1.40);
- the first coin (20 cents) cast in silver at the Hong Kong Mint in 1866 ($2.40);
- the first note (one dollar) issued by the Hong Kong Government in 1935 ($3); and
- the gold coin issued to commemorate the establishment of the HKSAR in 1997 ($5).
The souvenir sheet contains one set of the four stamps. The stamp sheetlet embedded with another $5 stamp depicts the seven coins in circulation since 1993 and 1994 (10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, one dollar, two dollars, five dollars and ten dollars), all of which feature Hong Kong's emblem, the Bauhinia.
Information about associated philatelic products of this issue and the sales restriction starting from 2 September 2004 are as follows:
| Products | Unit Selling Price | Sales Restriction Per Queuing Customer |
|---|---|---|
| Mint Stamps (4 denominations) | $1.40, $2.40, $3.00, $5.00 | 10 sheets of stamps of each denomination (viz. 250 sets of stamps) |
| Souvenir Sheet (with 1 set of 4 stamps) | $11.80 | 20 sheetlets |
| Stamp Sheetlet (containing a $5 stamp) | $5 | 20 sheetlets |
| Presentation Pack (with 1 set of 4 stamps and a stamp sheetlet) | $25 | 5 packs |
| Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a set of 4 stamps (only available at 39 philatelic offices on 2 September 2004) | $15.30 | 5 covers |
| Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a Souvenir Sheet (only available at 39 philatelic offices on 2 September 2004) | $15.30 | 5 covers |
| Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a Stamp Sheetlet (only available at 39 philatelic offices on 2 September 2004) | $8.50 | 5 covers |
The stamps will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Sha Tin Central Post Office from 12 August 2004. Official First Day Covers at $1.00 each will be put on sale at all post offices on the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided souvenir cover will be accepted at all post offices from 12 to 18 August 2004.
Hand-back datestamping service will be provided at all post offices on 2 September 2004 for official and privately-made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address. A special postmark will also be introduced.
The GPO-1 postmark, the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark and the philatelic office pictorial postmarks will also be available for hand-back datestamping service at all philatelic offices on that day.
On 2 September 2004, the public hall of the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau will open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for datestamping covers with the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark, the GPO-1 postmark as well as the special postmark.
First Day Cover Text - "Hong Kong Currency"
The enclosed photograph shows the specimen impression of the special postmark to be issued on 2 September 2004 on the theme "Hong Kong Currency".
The enclosed photographs show the Mint Stamps to be issued on 2 September 2004 on the theme "Hong Kong Currency".