XN000022-1980-12-26 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1980

COLOURFUL LOCAL FISH SHOWN ON STAMPS

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THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR A.C. HEATHCOTE, ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THERE WOULD BE THREE SPECIAL ISSUES OF POSTAGE STAMPS IN 1981 WITH THE THEMES FISH+, +PUBLIC HOUSING AND THE PORT OF HONG KONG, PAST AND PRESENT+.

THE FIRST ISSUE +FISH+ WILL BE PLACED ON SALE ON JANUARY 28.

THE ISSUE CONSISTS OF A SET OF FOUR COLOURFUL STAMPS (20 CENTS, $1, $1.30, AND $2) FEATURING SOME OF THE MORE COMMON SPECIES OF FISH FOUND IN HONG KONG.

THE 20 CENT STAMP DEPICTS A RED GROUPER WHICH IS A VERY POPULAR SPECIES OF GROUPER COMMERCIALLY REARED IN HONG KONG FISH FARMS.

THE $1 STAMP SHOWS THE GOLDEN THREAD WHOSE DISTINGUISHING FEATURES ARE ITS FILAMENTOUS TAIL AND YELLOW BANDS.

DEPICTING THE COLOURFUL TOOTHED WRASSE IS THE $1.30 STAMP. THIS COMMON SPECIES OF WRASSE IS GENERALLY FOUND IN COASTAL WATERS. IT HAS A STEEP HEAD PROFILE AND PATTERNS OF RED, PURPLE, ORANGE AND YELLOW ON ITS BODY.

THE BLUE-STRIPED PARROTFISH WITH PARROT-LIKE TEETH AND BLUE AND ORANGE PATTERN IS FEATURED ON THE $2 STAMP.

THE NEW STAMPS, WHICH WERE DESIGNED BY JANE THATCHER, WILL BE DISPLAYED ON THE FIRST FLOOR PUBLIC COUNTER OF THE GENERAL POST OFFICE IN CONNAUGHT PLACE LATER NEXT MONTH.

OFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVERS FOR THIS SPECIAL STAMP ISSUE WILL BE PLACED ON SALE AT ALL POST OFFICES ON JANUARY 20 AT 50 CENTS EACH. EACH COVER WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A DESCRIPTIVE INSERT CARD.

A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF COVERS WILL BE PRINTED TO MEET ANTICIPATED PUBLIC DEMAND BUT IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE GIVEN A FAIR CHANCE TO BUY THEM, NO MORE THAN 10 MAY BE PURCHASED BY A CUSTOMER AT ANY ONE TIME.

ADVANCE ORDERS FOR NOT LESS THAN 10 FIRST DAY COVERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE AND TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE FROM JANUARY 20 TO 24.

FURTHER DETAILS OF THE OTHER TWO SPECIAL STAMP ISSUES IN 1981 WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN DUE COURSE.

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