Special Stamp Issue - "Centenary of Customs and Excise Service"

Mint Stamps

A set of stamps on the theme of "Centenary of Customs and Excise Service" will be issued on 17 September 2009 (Thursday).

The Preventive Service was set up on 17 September 1909 under the then Imports and Exports Department and tasked with the duties of protecting and collecting revenue on liquors. It was renamed the Customs and Excise Service in 1977 and became an independent government department in 1982. The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) is one of the major law enforcement agencies with a staff establishment of around 5,600 responsible for combating smuggling, protecting and collecting revenue on dutiable commodities, deterring narcotics trafficking and drug abuse, safeguarding intellectual property rights and consumer interests, and protecting and facilitating legitimate trade to maintain Hong Kong's trading integrity. 2009 marks the 100th anniversary of the C&ED. Hongkong Post issues a set of four stamps to commemorate this important milestone.

Using a process printing technique, monochrome photos are juxtaposed with colour images on the stamps to spotlight the past and present of the C&ED undertaking different enforcement functions.

The C&ED celebrates its centenary in 2009. The past century has witnessed the Department's significant contributions in maintaining Hong Kong's status as a free port, an international trade centre and a logistics hub in Asia.

Sales Arrangements

Information about the sale of philatelic products associated with this set of special stamps starting from 17 September 2009 is as follows:

Remarks:

1. The above philatelic products are included in the 2009 Local Standing Order Service / 2009 Overseas Mail Order Service. For local customers, please contact Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau Hotline for enquiry at 2785 5711 or fax to 2191 9296.
2. For overseas customers, please ensure there is sufficient balance in your account to pay your advance order. Otherwise, your order will be processed only when the stock is still available after all orders have been fulfilled. For any enquiries, please contact Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau (Overseas Mail Order Service Unit) Hotline at 852-2928 7211 or fax to 852-2850 6552.

Official First Day Covers at $1 each will be put on sale at all post offices as from 3 September 2009. The stamps and the associated philatelic products will be displayed at General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Shatin Central Post Office as from the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from 3 to 9 September 2009.

Hand-back Datestamping Arrangements

A hand-back datestamping service by the office steel datestamp and the special postmark will be provided on 17 September 2009 at all post offices, for official and privately-made covers, bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address. They will be available, together with the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark and the philatelic office pictorial postmark, for hand-back datestamping service at all philatelic offices on that day. The "GPO-1" datestamp will be available at General Post Office only.

Also on 17 September 2009, the public hall of the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau on 1/F., Trade Square, 681 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, will open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for datestamping covers with the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark and the special postmark.

Stamp Printing Details

Souvenir Sheet	Special Postmark	Prestige Stamp Booklet
Serviced Maximum Card Set		Presentation Pack (Cover and Inside Design)
A set of 2 Serviced First Day Cover affixed with Stamp Sheetlets (one with $1.40/$2.40 stamp sheetlet and one with $3/$5 stamp sheetlet)
Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a set of Mint Stamps		Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a Souvenir Sheet