News

Fact Sheet — Special Stamp Issuing Programme for 2009

The Year of the Ox stamps featuring 4 different breeds of oxen and the gold and silver stamp sheetlet with Rat and Ox, embossed and hot-foiled with genuine 22-karat and 24-karat gold as well as 99.9% pure silver, are must-have items for collectors of the Lunar New Year series.

Through the issue of special stamps, Hongkong Post captures the beauty of art created by the nature and the mankind. The breathtaking scene of Mount Tianshan makes the stamp sheetlet another precious collection to treasure in the Mainland Scenery series and the Hong Kong Art Collections stamp set is a fine example of art at its best. The Stonecutters Bridge scheduled to open in 2009 further reflects Hong Kong’s image as a unique and vibrant Asian city.

The wonderful range of stamp issues in 2009 also includes the new set of Heartwarming stamps that blends the oriental and western themes of “Love & Care” and “Celebrations” and the Customs and Excise service on the occasion of its centenary in Hong Kong. To celebrate two major events, a set of stamps and a stamp sheetlet will be issued to commemorate Hong Kong hosting the 5th East Asian Games and the Hong Kong 2009 Stamp Exhibition respectively. Another stamp set which is bound to gain attention will be the joint issue with Brazil Post using football as the main theme and depicting the different playing styles of Hong Kong and Brazilian footballers.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, a set of 6 stamps will be issued with the illustrated images coming from selected entries in the Stamp Design Competition on this theme held by the Home Affairs Bureau. Customers can learn more about this fascinating special stamp issue and the associated products early next year. Also watch out for the celebratory version appeared as a stamp sheetlet with Victoria Harbour and Tiananmen as the main graphics.

Further details of individual stamp issue will be announced closer to the date of release.

Date / Month of Issue	Description
17 January 2009	Year of the Ox The hard working ox is the hero in the tenth issue of the third Lunar New Year series issued by Hongkong Post. This set of 4 stamps vividly captures the expressions and physical forms of 4 different breeds of oxen. A must-have item for collectors of the Lunar New Year series!
17 January 2009	Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals — Rat/Ox Say farewell to the “Year of the Rat” and welcome the “Year of the Ox”! Embossed and hot-foiled with genuine 22K and 24K gold as well as 99.9% silver, this special edition is great as a gift or for your own collection.
24 February 2009	Mainland Scenery Series No. 8: Mount Tianshan, Xinjiang Mount Tianshan is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges and bordered by turquoise waters and blue skies. Its picturesque scenery is captured in this beautiful stamp sheetlet. The stamp captures the beauty of the Tianchi Lake (meaning heavenly lake), while Glacier No. 1 of Mount Tianshan is the main visual in the stamp sheetlet. The breathtaking scene with the words “Tianshan” (meaning heavenly mountains) in Chinese calligraphy makes this stamp sheetlet another precious collection to treasure in the mainland scenery series.
Mid-2009 (to be confirmed)	Stonecutters Bridge Scheduled to open in 2009, Stonecutters Bridge further reflects Hong Kong’s image as a unique and vibrant Asian city. This set of 4 stamps looks at the design of this new bridge from different perspectives.
14 May 2009	Hong Kong 2009 Stamp Exhibition Stamp exhibition in Hong Kong is always a major event for philatelists in Asia and around the world. Hong Kong 2009 Stamp Exhibition will be held on 14 -17 May 2009. To commemorate the event, Hongkong Post will be issuing a stamp sheetlet, which will certainly attract stamp lovers the world over.
May 2009	Hong Kong Art Collections As Asia’s world city, Hong Kong offers an unusual blend of western and eastern culture mingled with old and new traditions. Using art collections in Hong Kong as a blueprint, this stamp set is a fine example of art at its best.
June 2009	Heartwarming Hongkong Post presents a new set of Heartwarming stamps that blends the oriental and western themes of “Love & Care” and “Celebrations” into bright and colorful visuals to help you convey these feelings to your loved ones.
September 2009	Centenary of Customs and Excise Service The Customs and Excise Department has kept our boundary safe and helped prevent tax evasion since it was established 100 years ago. Hongkong Post is launching this special stamp issue to give the general public a rare insight into the role and responsibility of Customs and Excise service, on the joyful occasion of the centenary of the Department.
October 2009	60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China Hongkong Post is issuing a set of 6 stamps to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, each of the illustrated images comes from selected entries in the Stamp Design Competition on this theme held by the Home Affairs Bureau, Radio Television Hong Kong, the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education and the Commission on Youth in mid-2008. Also watch out for the celebratory version appeared as a stamp sheetlet with Victoria Harbour and Tiananmen as the main graphics. These are set against China’s national red colour as the background to emphasise the joy and festivities of the occasion in this eye-catching stamp sheetlet.
November 2009	Hong Kong, China — Brazil Joint Issue on Football Football is one of the world’s most loved sports. Brazilian players are known for their footwork and are stars to Hong Kong football lovers. This joint issue with Brazil Post uses football as the main theme and depicts the different playing styles of Hong Kong and Brazilian footballers. A must-have collector’s item! This stamp issue is brimming with so much energy you feel you are live at the stadium.
December 2009	Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games In celebration of Hong Kong hosting the 5th East Asian Games, Hongkong Post is issuing a set of 6 stamps depicting different sport competitions in the Games including cycling, wind surfing, snooker and bowling. Collect this stamp issue and commemorate this event at the same time!