Sunday, October 2, 197
POST OFFICE PHILATELIC BUREAU
POPULAR WITH OVERSEAS STAMP COLLECTORS
The Philatelic Bureau of the Post Office, set up in 1974 to meet
the growing interest in Hong Kong stamps by overseas collectors, has been
so successful that it is regularly serving about 350 philatelists and
philatelic dealers all over the world.
A spokesman for the Post Office said new enquiries were continually
received concerning past and future stamp issues and from these it was
obvious that growth of business and the service of the bureau would continue.
For the overseas collectors the Bureau can provide stamps of the
current definitive issue, commemorative stamps issued within the last 12
months and a first day cover service. Postage due labels, registered
envelopes and souvenir folders are also available.
In the last financial year, it sold some $270,000 pustage stamps
and folders, an increase of $80,000 or 42 per cent, over 1975-76, its
first year of operation.
Overseas customers can obtain details and open a deposit account
by writing to the Bureau at the General Post Office in Hong Kong.
Another Service, a special philatelic counter for local stamp
collectors and tourists, was opened at the General Post Office in January, 1975.
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Items available to overseas collectors are also on sale here,
including souvenir sets of definitive stamps in attractive
show picturesque scenes of Hong Kong.
folders which
These souvenir suts have proved to be particularly popular with
tourists and besides being sold at the GPO in Connaught Place they are
also on sale at the Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office.
Hong Kong comiomorctive stamp issues also continue to be popular
with collectors, The recent issue with the tourism theme was very well
received both locally and overseas. It is expected that the forthcoming
Hong Kong orchids issue due for release on October 12 will be similarly
sought after.
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