Hongkong Post Stamps

Home > Newsletter > 2006 > December

Withdrawal of Current Definitive Stamps and Issue of 2006 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps

A set of new 2006 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps featuring a wide spectrum of birds that can be found in Hong Kong will be issued on 31 December 2006 (Sunday). The current set of definitive stamps issued since 2002 will be withdrawn from general sale at close of business on 30 December 2006 (Saturday). These stamps can, however, continue to be used for the prepayment of postage.

WITHDRAWAL OF CURRENT DEFINITIVE STAMPS

Arrangements at Close of Business 30 December 2006
The current set of definitive stamps will be withdrawn from general sale at close of business on 30 December 2006 (Saturday). On that day, all post offices (except mobile post offices) will maintain their normal Saturday operating hours to provide a full range of counter services.

Last Day Covers and Advance Orders
Official Last Day Covers will be put on sale at all post offices as from 11 December 2006 at HK$1 each for small-sized covers and HK$2 each for large-sized covers. Advance orders for servicing self-provided Last Day Covers will be accepted at all post offices from 11 to 16 December 2006.

Sales Arrangements for Serviced Last Day Covers at Philatelic Offices
Arrangements for the sale of Serviced Last Day Covers on 30 December 2006 are as follows:

Products	Descriptions	Selling Price (HKD)	Sales Restriction per Queuing Customer
Serviced Last Day Cover	Each affixed with a set of 12 low-value stamps and datestamped with the special postmark (available at 39 philatelic offices on 30 December 2006 only)	$26.30 per cover	5 covers
	Each affixed with a set of 4 high-value stamps and datestamped with the special postmark (available at 39 philatelic offices on 30 December 2006 only)	$96.50 per cover
	Each affixed with a full set of 16 stamps and datestamped with the special postmark (available at 39 philatelic offices on 30 December 2006 only)	$119.30 per cover

Remarks: The above philatelic products have been included in the 2006 Local Standing Order Service.

Hand-back Datestamping Arrangements
A special postmark will be introduced on 30 December 2006 to mark the last day sale of the current definitive stamps. Hand-back datestamping service will be provided at all post offices (except mobile post offices) on 30 December 2006 for official and privately-made covers bearing the last day issue indication and a local address.

In addition to the special postmark, the GPO-1 postmark, the “Philatelic Bureau” pictorial postmark and the respective philatelic office pictorial postmark will be available for hand-back datestamping service at 39 philatelic offices on that day.

The public hall of the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau on 1/F., Trade Square, 681 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, will also open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on 30 December 2006 for datestamping covers with the “Philatelic Bureau” pictorial postmark, the GPO-1 postmark and the special postmarks.

2006 HONG KONG DEFINITIVE STAMPS

Mint stamps

General Information
A new set of definitive stamps featuring a wide spectrum of birds that can be found in Hong Kong will be issued on 31 December 2006 (Sunday). It comprises the following 16 denominations:

Low Values :	10¢, 20¢, 50¢, $1, $1.40, $1.80, $1.90, $2, $2.40, $2.50, $3 and $5
High Values :	$10, $13, $20 and $50

This will be the third set of definitive stamps since the establishment of the HKSAR. In addition to the stamps, two definitive stamp souvenir sheets will also be issued: the low-value souvenir sheet (HK$21.80) and the high-value souvenir sheet (HK$93). A new aerogramme bearing the postage of HK$2.30 will also be introduced on 31 December 2006 to replace the one currently on sale.

As from 11 December 2006, the new stamps and aerogramme will be displayed for the advance information of the public at General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Sha Tin Central Post Office.

Security Features
To safeguard security of the new definitive stamps, a number of security features have been adopted:

1.	All stamps are printed on paper with multiple security fibres. The public can easily tell the genuineness by looking at the orange and green security fibres on the back of the stamps while the yellow security fibres are visible under UV light.
2.	All stamps bear an elliptical perforation on each of the vertical.
3.	For high-value definitive stamps, iridescent ink is printed on the denominations to give a shiny effect when the stamp is viewed at different angles. There are also micro-perforations inside the dollar sign and surrounding the denomination, and micro-text of the name of the bird is printed on the respective stamp.

Design and Printing
The stamps and aerogramme are designed by Mr. Bon KWAN. The stamps are printed in photogravure by Joh. Enschede B.V., the Netherlands, while the aerogrammes are printed by Australia Post Sprintpak.

First Day Covers and Advance Orders
Official First Day Covers for the new definitive stamps will be put on sale at all post offices at HK$1 each for small-sized covers and HK$2 each for large-sized covers as from 11 December 2006. Advance orders for servicing self-provided First Day Covers will be accepted at all post offices from 11 to 16 December 2006. Customers may also place advance orders for special positions of new definitives at the 39 philatelic offices from 11 to 16 December 2006 and collect their orders on 31 December 2006 at their chosen post office.

Sales Arrangements for Stamps and Associated Philatelic Products
Arrangements for the sale of stamps and the associated philatelic products on 31 December 2006 are as follows:

Products	Descriptions	Selling Price (HKD)	Sales Restriction per Queuing Customer
Mint Stamp	In 12 values of 10¢, 20¢, 50¢, $1, $1.4, $1.8, $1.9, $2, $2.4, $2.5, $3 and $5, also available in panes of 100 stamps In 4 values of $10, $13, $20 and $50, also available in panes of 50 stamps	$114.80 per set	10 sheets of each denominations
Souvenir Sheet	Low-value Sheet : each contains a set of 12 low-value stamps High-value Sheet : each contains a set of 4 high-value stamps	$21.80 per sheet $93.00 per sheet	20 sheets
Presentation Pack	Low-value Pack : contains a set of 12 low-value stamps Full Range Pack : contains a full set of 16 stamps	$40.00 per pack $150.00 per pack	5 packs
Prestige Definitive Stamps Booklet	contains a se-tenant stamp sheet with 12 low-value stamps	$21.80 per booklet	5 booklets
Serviced First Day Cover	Each affixed with a set of 12 low-value stamps and datestamped with the special postmark (available at 39 philatelic offices on 31 December 2006 only)	$26.30 per cover	5 covers
	Each affixed with a set of 4 high-value stamps and datestamped with the special postmark (available at 39 philatelic offices on 31 December 2006 only)	$96.50 per cover
	Each affixed with a full set of 16 stamps and datestamped with the special postmark (available at 39 philatelic offices on 31 December 2006 only)	$119.30 per cover
	Each affixed with a souvenir sheet (Low-value Sheet) and datestamped with the special postmark (available at 39 philatelic offices on 31 December 2006 only)	$26.30 per cover
	Each affixed with a souvenir sheet (High-value Sheet) and datestamped with the special postmark (available at 39 philatelic offices on 31 December 2006 only)	$96.50 per cover
Definitive Stamp Booklet	Four different denominations of booklets, viz. $1.4, $1.8, $2.4 and $3 and each of them contains 10 pieces of stamps (available at all post offices except mobile post offices from 31 December 2006 to 6 January 2007; the booklets are also available at non-post office sale outlets such as convenient stores starting from 31 December 2006, depending on the delivery schedules of the stamps agents.)	$14.00 per (10 x $1.4 stamps) booklet $18.00 per (10 x $1.8 stamps) booklet $24.00 per (10 x $2.4 stamps) booklet $30.00 per (10 x $3 stamps) booklet	5 booklets
Reel Stamps	pre-packaged set of five sets of four denominations viz. $1.4, $1.8, $2.4 and $3; the design of the new reel stamps is exactly the same as that of the sheet stamps, except for its smaller size) (available at 39 philatelic offices on 31 December 2006 only)	$43.00 per package	5 packages
Serviced Maximum Card	A set of four maximum cards [affixed with a stamp ($1.4, $2.4, $3 and $5) on the picture side of the card and datestamped with the special postmark] (available at 39 philatelic offices on 31 December 2006 only)	$34.30 per set	5 sets

Hand-back Datestamping Arrangements
A special postmark will be introduced on 31 December 2006 to mark the first day issue of the 2006 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps. Hand-back datestamping service will be provided at all post offices (except mobile post offices) on 31 December 2006 for official and privately-made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address.

The public hall of the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau on 1/F., Trade Square, 681 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, will also open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on 31 December 2006 for datestamping covers with the “Philatelic Bureau” pictorial postmark, the GPO-1 postmark and the special postmarks.

Business Hours
On 31 December 2006 (Sunday), all post offices (except mobile post offices) will open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui and Airport post offices will maintain their normal Sunday operating hours from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

New 2006 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps Printing Details

Design :	Bon KWAN
Illustrator :	WONG Wai-shing Patrick
Printer :	Joh. Enschedé B.V., the Netherlands
Process :	Photogravure
Stamp Size :	Low values - 25 mm x 29 mm (10¢, 20¢, 50¢, $1, $1.40, $1.80, $1.90, $2, $2.40, $2.50, $3, $5) High values - 28.5 mm x 33.5 mm ($10, $13, $20, $50)
Stamp Layout: :	Low values - Pane of 100 stamps High values - Pane of 50 stamps
Perforation :	Low values - 13 x 13.75 (one elliptical perforation on each vertical) High values - 13.25 (one elliptical perforation on each vertical)
Paper :	Paper with security fibres
Date of Issue :	31 December 2006


Souvenir Sheet (Low-value Sheet)	Souvenir Sheet (High-value Sheet)	Presentation Pack (Low-value Pack)

Presentation Pack (Full Range Pack)	Prestige Definitive Stamps Booklet	Special Postmark

Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a set of 12 low-value stamps	Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a set of 4 high-value stamps	Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a set of 16 stamps

Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a souvenir sheet (Low-value Sheet)	Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a souvenir sheet (High-value Sheet)	Definitive Stamp Booklets

Aerogramme	Serviced Maximum Cards

* Information provided in this link is subject to change.