Birth of a Stamp

Hongkong Post issues ten interesting and beautiful stamps every year. They range widely in design and theme and attract great interest from stamp collectors.

But when you're appreciating these stamps, have you ever considered the different processes they have gone through - from the initial design concept to the final release of the stamps?

Each year, Hongkong Post invites suggestions for postage stamp themes 18 months ahead of issue from district boards, various government departments and related organisations such as Hong Kong Tourism Board, and Universities etc. These ideas are considered by the Stamp Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC also considers proposals made by members of the public, who write to the Postmaster General from time to time.

The Stamp Advisory Committee

The SAC is chaired by the Postmaster General and comprises nine members:

• Prominent local citizens
• Professional graphic designer
• Philatelic expert
• Representative from the Home Affairs Bureau and
• Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service

They represent a reasonably broad cross-section of Hong Kong, so that a balance is maintained in the views of stamp themes and designs to be selected. Committee members are appointed for two-year terms. Generally speaking, they are allowed a maximum of three consecutive appointments.

After the themes have been selected by the SAC and approved by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Hongkong Post commissions several designers to submit designs on each theme. This is then presented to the SAC for comment. After the designs have been selected by SAC and by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Hongkong Post will arrange tender for stamp printing.

As stamps are similar to monetary notes, printing has to be undertaken by a security printer, printers that have manufactured stamps for Hong Kong include leading security printers in Mainland China, UK, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, the USA and Germany... etc. Hongkong Post spends about 18 months in the preparation and printing of stamps - roughly twice the gestation period of a baby!

Functions of the Stamp Advisory Committee

The functions of the Stamp Advisory Committee are to advise the Postmaster General on the following:

1. The stamp themes and designs to be submitted for approval of the Secretary for Home Affairs
2. Other related issues

Members of the current Stamp Advisory Committee are:

Attendance of Members of Stamp Advisory Committee Meeting

	24.11.2011
Chairman: Mrs. Jessie TING
Members: Mr. KO Kwong-leung, Alex
Professor LAM Hin-tong, Yanta
Miss SO Hoi-yan
Mr. Winnif PANG
Mr. FUNG Man-wai
Mr. Danny TSUI
Ms. PANG Chuk-nga, Gladys
Ms. Kitty YU
Mrs. Ingrid YEUNG
Secretary: Mr. Roy SIU

	-	present
	-	absent with apologies
	-	represented by representative

Agenda for SAC Meeting

24 November 2011 (Thursday) at 2:30pm in Conference Room, 4/F, GPO

1. Confirmation of Notes of Meeting on 26 July 2011
2. Matters Arising:
   2.1. Stamp designs for 2012
   2.2. Stamp designs for 2012
3. New Item
   3.1. Stamp themes for 2013