News
23 August 2002
Special Stamp Issue - Rocks of Hong Kong
The Postmaster General, Mr Luk Ping-chuen, announced today (August 23) that a set of special stamps featuring Rocks of Hong Kong will be issued on September 15 (Sunday).
The landscape of Hong Kong has been controlled mainly by the nature of its underlying rocks, with each rock type displaying characteristic weathering features and landforms. The stamps depict different types of rock found in the outlying islands of Hong Kong as follows:
$1.40 : Ping Chau - Siltstone
Ping Chau is made up of finely layered siltstone and mudstone. These are the youngest rocks in Hong Kong and the rocks contain many fossils including insect and plant remains.
$2.40 : Port Island - Conglomerate
The Port Island conglomerate has a very distinctive reddish-brown colour. The rocks were formed from sediments. The desert conditions made most of the rocks red.
$3.00 : Po Pin Chau - Tuff
Thick volcanic rock layers (tuff) occurred along the coast and on offshore islands of eastern Hong Kong. As shown in the close- up, these rock layers are characterised by six-sided, columnar joints, from North Ninepin Island.
$5.00 : Lamma Island - Granite
South Lamma Island is mainly made up of granite and as shown in the close-up, the rock mainly comprises three major minerals: white feldspar, transparent quartz and black biotite.A special printing technique, thermography, has been applied to this set of stamps during the printing process. This involves putting a layer of transparent thermographic powder to the stamp sheet before the ink dries. With this special process and coating, the tactile and visual appeals of the stamps in depicting the structure of the rocks have been greatly enhanced. This is also the first time to apply thermography to the printing of Hong Kong stamp.
The specimen impression of the special postmark to be issued on 15 September 2002 on the theme of "Rocks of Hong Kong".
The enclosed photograph shows the Special Stamps to be issued on 15 September 2002 on the theme of "Rocks of Hong Kong".
The stamps are designed by Mr. Ken LI and printed in lithography and thermography by Cartor Security Printing in France.
Other associated philatelic products released with this issue and the sales restriction per customer queuing on the first day of issue on September 15 and on subsequent days until stock lasts are as follows:
Product: Mint Stamps
Description: In 4 values of $1.40, $2.40, $3 and $5, also available in panes of 25 stamps
Unit selling price: $1.40, $2.40, $3.00 and $5.00
Sales restriction: 10 sheets of stamps of each denomination (viz. 250 sets of stamps)
Product: Souvenir Sheets
Description: Each containing the four stamps
Unit selling price: $11.80
Sales restriction: 20 sheets
Product: Presentation Pack
Description: Each containing the four stamps
Unit selling price: $20
Sales restriction: 5 packs
Product: Picture Card
Description: Set of four airmail postage prepaid picture cards
Unit selling price: $20 / set
Sales restriction: 5 sets
Product: Serviced first day covers with souvenir sheets
Description: Affixed with a piece of souvenir sheet and cancelled with the special postmark (available at the 38 philatelic offices only on September 15)
Unit selling price: $15.30
Sales restriction: 5 covers
Product: Serviced first day covers with a full set of stamps
Description: Affixed with a full set of stamps and cancelled with the special postmark (available at the 38 philatelic offices only on September 15)
Unit selling price: $15.30
Sales restriction: 5 covers
As from August 26, the stamps will be displayed for advance information of the public at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Shatin Central Post Office. Official first day covers at $1 each will be put on sale at all post offices on the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided souvenir covers will be accepted at all post offices from August 26 to September 2.
Hand-back service will be provided at all post offices on September 15 to 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 datestamp and pictorial postmarks will also be available for hand-back service at all philatelic offices on that day.
All post offices will open on September 15 to provide a full range of counter services. The opening hours will be from 9 am to 2 pm. At the same time, the public hall of the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau will also open from 9 am to 2 pm for datestamping covers with the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark, the GPO-1 postmark as well as the special postmark.