News
6 March 2006
Children's talent shown in innovative stamp design
The Postmaster General, Mr. Allan CHIANG, today announced that a special stamp issue with the theme of "Children Stamps - Dress Bear Up" will be issued on Thursday, 30 March 2006. These stamps portray the winning entries submitted by children who entered a competition to design stamps held in 2004.
Showing great imagination and ingenuity, the young artists made use of a wide spectrum of materials to produce delightful designs that exude natural charm. Six of these cuddlesome bears are now featured in this "Dress Bear Up" stamp issue.
The $1.40 stamp, by LEE Yuen-ching, features Mrs. Bear dressed in a dark-coloured Hakka costume matched with a draped cloth hat. Fish prints on her garment and an oar in her hand indicate she is going fishing. Next is the $1.80 Miss Bear, radiating happiness in her traditional Chinese wedding gown. This is the product of LAM Sheung-nam, Sean. Sweetie Bear saunters merrily through the meadow in a pleated sundress, savouring her lollipop on the $2.40 stamp designed by CHOW Chun-hin.
LAU Hong-wan designed the $2.50 Cutie Bear stamp with embroidered apron, tiger-faced hood and shoes, paired with a lovely handbag; and Mr. Bear appears smartly dressed in grey and black with a striped sweater and a pair of long pants on the $3 stamp designed by CHIU Man-lok. Last but not least, on the $5 stamp appears Sweetheart Bear in a tropical theme with a green and blue foliage full skirt designed by LAU Hiu-tung, Michelle.
The First Day Cover features Cuddly Bear floating on a puffy white cloud against a soft backdrop of blue sky which contrasts with the brightly coloured title of this special stamp issue.
Commenting on this special stamp issue, Mr. CHIANG remarked: "The stamp competition was introduced to stimulate children's interest in stamp collection and the wonderful designs which resulted were very imaginative and put together with considerable detail and effort by the children. It is gratifying to see Hong Kong's youth taking an interest in stamps as a healthy and educational hobby and using their intellect and their ability to create such impressive art."
Mr. KAN Tai-keung touched up the stamp designs and also designed the Souvenir Sheet and Prestige Stamp Booklet. This issue is printed in lithography by Cartor Security Printing, France.
The stamps will be displayed at the General Post Office and the Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsuen Wan and Shatin Central post offices from 9 March 2006. Official First Day Covers at $2.00 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 philatelic offices from 9 March to 15 March 2006.
A hand-back datestamping service will be provided at all post offices on 30 March 2006 for official and privately-made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address.
A special postmark will also be introduced. This will be available, together with the "GPO-1" postmark, the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark and the philatelic office pictorial postmark, for hand-back datestamping service at all philatelic offices on that day.
The public hall of the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau will also 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 "Children Stamps - Dress Bear Up" Special Stamp to be issued on 30 March 2006.
The enclosed photograph shows "Children Stamps - Dress Bear Up" Special Postmark to be issued on 30 March 2006.