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First Day Cover text for the Year of the Monkey special stamps

This is the fifth Lunar New Year special stamp issue in the third series released by the Hongkong Post. The first and the second set of special stamps for the Year of the Monkey were issued in 1968 and 1992 respectively.

The monkey has long been revered in the Chinese culture and is one of its most enduring characters. Famously depicted as the courageous and gifted Monkey King in Wu Ch'eng-en's classic tale 'Journey to the West' in the 1500s, the monkey is also the ninth sign of the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle.

2004 is the Year of the Monkey. People born under this sign are said to be creative, clever, energetic and always good fun to be around.

In the wild, monkeys live in complex social groups. With the largest relative brain size of all mammal species (except humans), monkeys are highly intelligent, curious and playful creatures. These characteristics have enabled monkeys to adapt and thrive in a variety of habitats across China, from the Himalayas in Tibet to the tropical forest of the southern provinces, the bamboo jungles in the central region, and even the urban cityscape of Hong Kong.

In keeping with the lively spirit of these fascinating creatures, different species of monkeys have been depicted in these colourful stamps, which also incorporate traditional Chinese paper cutting techniques as a toast to the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year.

Acknowledgement : Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department