News
26 September 2005
Special Stamp Issue to Feature Hong Kong and Portugal Fishing Villages
The Postmaster General, Mr. Allan CHIANG, today announced that a set of Special Stamps entitled "Hong Kong, China - Portugal Joint Issue on Fishing Villages" will be issued on 18 October 2005 (Tuesday). This is the sixth joint issue of stamps by Hongkong Post with another postal administration.
Hong Kong, like Portugal, used to naturally foster coastal villages where fishing became a major source of livelihood. The $1.40 and $3 stamps depict Tai O's characteristic wooden stilt-houses , a fishing boat and the local specialty of dried salted fish. The $2.40 and $5 stamps feature the palafitte landing stage of Aldeia da Carrasqueira in Portugal. It is flanked by colourful fishing boats and in the foreground is a fisherman at work.
Commenting on this special stamp issue, Mr. CHIANG remarked: "This stamp design is a beautiful example of how stamps can depict the similarities of places far removed from one another. In the past, both Tai O and Aldeia da Carrasqueira developed as fishing villages with distinct personalities and characteristics. Nowadays, the local population of Aldeia da Carrasqueira is a mixture of farmers and fisher-folk whilst Tai O is also a major tourist attraction in Hong Kong. The history of these two places is fascinating and these stamps will engender an interest and an understanding of both the similarities and the diversity of life around the world."
The stamps are designed by Ms. Sofia MARTINS and printed in lithography by Southern Colour Print, New Zealand. On the First Day Cover, the entire background of the design shows in subdued colours with a man-made structure erected on wooden stakes in the water, fronted by fishing boats floating on the gentle tide and reminiscent of both the village of Tai O and the landing stage of Aldeia da Carrasqueira.
The stamps will be displayed at the General Post Office and the Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsuen Wan and Shatin Central post offices from 27 September 2005. 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 39 philatelic offices from 27 September to 3 October 2005.
A hand-back datestamping service will be provided at all post offices on 18 October 2005 for 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 postmark, the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark and the philatelic office pictorial postmark will also be available for hand-back datestamping service at all philatelic offices on that day.
Also on 18 October 2005, the public hall of the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for datestamping covers with the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark, the GPO-1 postmark and the special postmark.
Further information about this issue and the sale of associated philatelic products can be obtained from Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.com, at any post office, or by calling the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau hotline 2785 5711
First Day Cover text
Fact Sheet
The enclosed photograph shows "Hong Kong, China - Portugal Joint Issue on Fishing Villages" Special Stamp to be issued on 18 October 2005.
he enclosed photograph shows "Hong Kong, China - Portugal Joint Issue on Fishing Villages" Special Postmark to be issued on 18 October 2005..