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THE HONG KONG PEACE COMMEMORATION STAMPS.
BY MR. E. I. WYNNE-JONES, POSTMASTER GENERAL.
The design of these stamps was conceived and executed during interment in Stanley Camp, Hong Kong. As may be imagined, time hung heavily on our hands during those long years, though hope never died. In 1943, it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to have a commemorative stamp issued when Hong Kong was finally liberated, and I set about designing one. I am no artist, but I roughed out the design which has now been adopted.
I chose the Phoenix, not only for the obvious symbolism of resur- rection from the flames and ashes of the years of Japanese occupation, but also because in Chinese mythology the appearance of the Phoenix is held to indicate the return of good government,
The following is a Chinese account of the Phoenix: "A Phoenix was regarded in China as the queen of all birds which lived on pure water and the acorns of Stercula plataniafolia and only appeared in a Golden Age or upon the birth of a sage-king.
"It appeared once in the royal court of Emperor Shun some 2,000 years B.C. and danced to the tune of one of his ministers who was a skilful musician.
"When King Wen of the Chou dynasty was ruling at Hsi-ch'i (a place in Shensi Province) some 1,000 years B.C. it put in its appear- ance again and sang on the summit of Chishan (Mount Ch'i).
"When the daughter of a duke of Chin was playing her flute some 200 years B.C. a Phoenix descended from heaven. She rode on its back, ascended to heaven and became an immortal.
"It is generally regarded by the Chinese as a model of beauty and many places in China were named after it.
"This fabulous bird is also a token of complete harmony and a symbol of great virtue. In the classics it is represented as a sage or a wise ruler."
The two characters on the shields supported by the Lions of England represent the words Hong Kong or "Fragrant Streams," the delightful name of the Colony.
On the side panels are inscribed the Chinese characters (RU ****) which mean: "The Resurrection of the Phoenix is the symbo of general Peace for Chinese and British."
I then enlisted the help of a fellow internee, Mr. W. E. Jones, Senior Draughtsman of the P.W.D. of Hong Kong, who is not only an
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