Annual Report

The Year In Stamps

Overview of 2008/09 special stamp issues

In 2008/09, Hongkong Post issued seven sets of special stamps, two stamp sheetlets and one special stamp mini-pane, along with a number of other products of special interest and collectability. The colourful special stamp issues continued in a tradition of celebrating themes both topical and timeless, all with a special Hong Kong relevance.

With the world's attention turned on China in 2008 as host of the Olympic Games, the theme for some of the special stamps and products was obvious. The first Olympic special product was a Heartwarming stamp mini-pane showing the Torch Relay route in Hong Kong, followed in August by a special stamp set celebrating the Olympic Equestrian events, which were for the first time held in Hong Kong. To round out the Olympic theme, Hongkong Post also issued a Limited Edition Prestige Stamp Album containing both the Olympic mini-pane and special stamps, together with some fascinating collectibles.

A number of stamp issues took the natural world as their theme. An issue on "Jellyfish" in June 2008 with a glow-in-the-dark effect used for the first time ever on Hong Kong stamps was followed by a popular Giant Pandas set in July 2008, depicting Hong Kong's own Le Le and Ying Ying. China's remarkable landscape was not forgotten, with a February 2009 issue showcasing the grandeur of Mount Tianshan, Xinjiang, with its majestic mountains and dazzling icescape.

Certain popular stamp issues recur every year, such as the Lunar New Year series. This year (January 2009) we celebrated the Year of the Ox, with stamps that vividly depicted different breeds of oxen. Interestingly, paper was a feature of another regular set, Children Stamps, which this year was titled "Paper Folding Fun", and showed the winning entries in a paper-folding competition held by Hongkong Post.

One of the highlights of the year was the issuing of special fundraising stamp products, each of which came with a genuine paw print of one of Hong Kong's Giant Pandas. Proceeds from the sales of these sets went towards helping preserve the natural habitat of the giant pandas in the Mainland, which was devastated by the Sichuan earthquake.

Other of the year's issues included a stamp sheetlet to commemorate Hongkong Post's participation in World Stamp Exhibition PRAGA 2008, a joint issue with the Republic of Korea depicting traditional masks, and another set of stamps featuring the role of Hong Kong's judiciary.

Nurturing an interest in philately among young people

Hongkong Post also organised the 10th Inter-School Stamp Exhibits Competition (November 2008 to February 2009) and the Children Stamps Design Competition titled "Hong Kong In My Eyes" (January to March 2009), co-organised with the Education Bureau. These activities were very well-supported, and helped foster young people's interest in stamps and stamp collecting.

Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay (Hong Kong)" Heartwarming II Stamp Mini-Pane 2/5/2008	Beijing 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events 9/8/2008
Jellyfish 12/6/2008	Giant Pandas 1/7/2008
Mainland Scenery Series No.8: Mount Tianshan, Xinjiang 24/2/2009	Year of the Ox 17/1/2009
Children Stamps – Paper Folding Fun 22/5/2008	Judiciary 27/11/2008
Hong Kong, China - Republic of Korea Joint Issue on Masks 6/11/2008	Stamp Sheetlet to Commemorate Hongkong Post's Participation in World Stamp Exhibition PRAGA 2008 12/9/2008

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