News
13 November 2003
Special Stamp Issue - "Development of Public Housing in Hong Kong"
The Postmaster General, Mr. Allan CHIANG, announced today (13 November 2003) that a set of special stamps which depicts the progress of public housing development in Hong Kong over the past five decades will be issued on Thursday, 11 December 2003.
The stamps are designed by Mr. Tony HO and printed in photogravure by Joh. Enschedé Stamps Security Printers B.V., the Netherlands. This is also the first set of pentagonal stamps and tête-bêche stamps issued in Hong Kong. Tête-bêche stamps are produced during the plate-making stage. The stamps are arranged back to back. Hence, the stamps are printed with an upright image attached to an inverted image.
Information about associated philatelic products of this issue and the sales restriction starting from 11 December 2003 are as follows :
| Products | Unit Selling Price | Sales Restriction Per Customer |
|---|---|---|
| Mint Stamps (4 denominations) | $1.40, $2.40, $3.00, $5,00 | 10 sheets of stamps of each denomination (viz. 200 sets of stamps) |
| Presentation Pack (with full set of 4 stamps) | $20.00 | 5 packs |
| Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a set of 4 stamps (cancelled by special postmark, only available at 39 philatelic offices on 11 December 2003) | $15.30 | 5 covers |
| Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a set of "tête-bêche" stamps (2 x 4 stamps) (cancelled by special postmark, only available at 39 philatelic offices on 11 December 2003) | $27.10 | 5 covers |
The stamps will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Shatin Central Post Office from 20 November 2003. 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 covers will be accepted at all post offices from 20 to 26 November 2003.
Hand-back service will be provided at all post offices on 11 December 2003 for official and privately-made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address.
The "GPO-1" postmark (GPO-1???), the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark and the philatelic office pictorial postmarks will also be available for hand-back service at all philatelic offices on that day.
On 11 December 2003, 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.
"Development of Public Housing in Hong Kong" special stamps
The enclosed photograph shows the specimen impression of the special postmark to be issued on 11 December 2003 on the theme "Development of Public Housing in Hong Kong".
The enclosed photographs show the Special Stamps to be issued on 11 December 2003 on the theme "Development of Public Housing in Hong Kong".