News
31 January 2004
Fourth Issue in Hongkong Post's Tourism Series Unveiled at the HONG KONG 2004 Stamp Expo
Postmaster General, Mr. Allan CHIANG, unveiled the fourth of six stamp sheetlets of Hongkong Post's tourism series today (31 January 2004) at the HONG KONG 2004 Stamp Expo, together with Ms. Clara CHONG, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
The theme of the five-day stamp expo is "tourism" and Hongkong Post is issuing six commemorative stamp sheetlets incorporating motifs associated with Hong Kong's tourism sector. Images that promote Hong Kong as a colourful tourist destination include nightlife scenes, Hong Kong's natural environment, and Chinese gourmet and culinary delights. The stamp sheetlet issued today bears images from Hong Kong's traditional Lunar New Year's Day parade, including the auspicious dragon and a golden carp, as well as other parade floats. The final two sheetlets will incorporate the themes of Hong Kong Shopping and Hong Kong's traditional festivals.
During his speech, Mr. CHIANG thanked the Hong Kong Tourism Board for its promotional and organizational support to the Stamp Expo. He then pointed out the importance of Hongkong Post's role in facilitating tourism in Hong Kong, for example, by providing postal services and poste restante facilities for overseas visitors who pass through Hong Kong each year.
"Hongkong Post is delighted to be involved in the promotion of tourism and plans its activities to align with government and private-sector initiatives in this area", said Mr. CHIANG.
"For example, our stamps depict the many interesting faces of Hong Kong, some of which are not images that immediately come to mind when one thinks of tourism in Hong Kong, such as the pristine natural areas, birds and plants. We were particularly proud of our involvement in promoting a lesser-known aspect of Hong Kong.
"Many people also remember the Hong Kong Disneyland ground-breaking commemorative stamps that were issued in early 2003. Commemorative stamps will also be issued on its grand opening. The government has a substantial investment in that project which, once completed, will represent Hong Kong's very major international tourist attraction."
A unique feature of HONG KONG 2004 Stamp Expo is that coins, as well as stamps, will be featured for the first time in international stamp exhibitions in Hong Kong. Visitors to the expo will be able to purchase the Commemorative Collection and the Prestige Collection of Stamp Sheetlets and Banknotes.
The Commemorative Collection pack contains a stamp sheetlet of the Tourism Series No. 3: Gourmet Kitchen and a HK$10 banknote issued by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Both the stamp sheetlet and the HK$10 banknote have the same prefix and serial number.
The Prestige Collection pack contains Tourism Series Nos. 1 to 6 stamp sheetlets and six of the ten-dollar banknotes issued by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Each pair of sheetlets and banknotes is printed with the same prefix and serial number. In addition, the first digits of the serial numbers correspond to the Tourism Series Nos. 1 to 6.
The HONG KONG 2004 Stamp Expo is an astounding success with 25,000 visitors received so far. More than 550 visitors have participated in the philatelic seminars and 2,184 students have explored the Youth Corner, designed to arouse the interest of the younger generation in stamp collections. Innovative product such as "My Stamp" is particularly welcomed by the visitors.
The HONG KONG 2004 Stamp Expo will run for three more days till 3 February, 2004. The event takes place in Hall 1 of the HKCEC and occupies about 15,000 square feet. Attendance is free to the public, and is co-organized by the Hong Kong Philatelic Society, the China Philatelic Association and the Tsim Sha Tsui Philatelic Club. Under the patronage of the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately (F.I.A.P.), this expo is also known as the 17th Asian International Stamp Exhibition. Over 100 postal administrations, agents, printers, dealers and philatelic publishers and suppliers from around the world - including the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation, and Hong Kong Disneyland - will participate in the event, and about 1,200 competitive and invitational exhibits will be on display.
For further details, check the web site http://www.hongkong2004stampexpo.com.
Hongkong Post hosted the "HONG KONG 2004 Stamp Expo Tourism Series No. 4: "Chinese New Year Parade" Stamp Sheetlet Issuing Ceremony" on 31 January 2004 at the HONG KONG 2004 Stamp Expo held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Mr. Allan CHIANG, Postmaster General (second from left) and Ms. Clara CHONG, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (first from left) officiated at the ceremony.
The enclosed photograph shows the specimen of "HONGKONG 2004 Stamp Expo Tourism Series No. 4 : Chinese New Year Parade" issued on 31 January 2004.