-
19
-
New set of definitive stamps to be on sale on January 26
The Postmaster General, Mr Robert Footman, announced today (Tuesday) that the current set of definitive stamps showing the Queen's portrait will be withdrawn from general sale at the close of business on Saturday, January 25, 1997.
"They can however be used up to June 30, 1997 for the pre-payment of postage," he added.
A new set of definitive stamps will be put on sale on Sunday, January 26. It comprises 16 denominations, namely 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1, $1.2, $1.3, $1.4, $1.6, $2, $2.1, $2.5, $3.1, $5 (low values); and $10, $20, $50 (high values).
The stamps which have a neutral design with no connotation of sovereignty have been agreed by the British and Chinese sides of the Joint Liaison Group. The stamps can be used before and after July 1, 1997.
The whole set when placed together features a continuous stretch of the waterfront of Hong Kong. The 13 low value stamps in small format depict a day scene while the three high value stamps in large format depict a night scene.
Two souvenir sheets will also be introduced on this occasion. One of these, comprising all the 13 low value denominations in a continuous stretch, will be sold at $22 whereas the other, comprising the three high value denominations in a continuous stretch will be sold at $80.
The stamps were designed by Mr Kan Tai Keung. The sheet stamps are printed by Ashton Potter of Canada while the reel stamps are printed by Joh Enschede of the Netherlands.
A new aerogramme bearing a $2.3 definitive stamp will also be introduced on January 26 to replace the two kinds of pictorial aerogrammes currently on sale. The aerogrammes are printed by Mercury Walsh Ltd of Australia.
A sale restriction of 10 souvenir sheets of each type, for each customer queuing will be imposed on January 26.
The stamps and aerogramme will be displayed for advance information of the public at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office and Sha Tin Central Post Office as from Friday (January 10).
Page 20Page 21