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The following is the speech by the Postmaster General, Mr P.C. Luk, at the "Year of the Dragon" Special Stamps issuing ceremony today (Sunday):

Mrs Lau and friends from the media,

Thank you for joining us today at the issuing ceremony of the "Year of the Dragon" Special Stamp Issue. I would like to extend our special thanks to Mrs Shirley Lau, Director of Home Affairs for officiating today's ceremony.

This is the first Lunar New Year special stamp issue in the third series specially released in the new millennium to celebrate this joyful festival. The series starts with the year of the Dragon with a variation on tradition. These special stamps apply Chinese paper cutting to the portrayal of the mighty Dragon with a new perspective. It is not only the first Lunar New Year special stamp issue in the third series, but also the first imperforated stamp sheetlet in local postal history, making it even more valuable for collection.

To mark the new millennium, commemorative stamps in brand-new designs applying sophisticated technology will be issued. In addition to the imperforated stamp sheetlet, we have issued earlier on New Year's Eve the first ever gold stamp in local history - the "Gold Stamp to celebrate the New Millennium". On 26 March, we will also issue the first set of triangular stamps in Hong Kong depicting our museums and library and the "Hong Kong Insects" stamps to be issued on 16 July will be printed in extra definition. We hope we can time and again bring to the public and philatelists nice surprises and novelties.

As a new year begins, Hongkong Post pledges to continue serving the public with excellent postal service in meeting changing needs.

Last of all, I would like to wish you every success and good health in the new year.

Thank you.

End/Sunday, January 23, 2000

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