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Hongkong Post today (September 13) announced that a set of six special stamps on the "Centenary of Railway Service in Hong Kong" will be released for sale together with philatelic products on September 28.
The first single-track railway service connecting Hong Kong and the Mainland at Lo Wu commenced operation in 1910 and has since expanded to cover a nationwide network of key destinations. Throughout this period, trains served the commuting public tirelessly, witnessing the changing economic fortunes and social ties of the two places.
To mark the centenary of railway service in Hong Kong, a set of six special stamps will be issued that feature different types of trains in use both past and present: steam train, diesel train, electric train, MTR passenger train, Kowloon-Guangzhou through train and airport express train. Particularly worth mentioning is the $20 stamp sheetlet produced by a sophisticated printing technique called lenticular process that gives the steam train the visual effect of movement.
A gift set comprising a souvenir sheet and train model is also available for sale at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Sha Tin Central Post Office from September 28. This gift set is based on Locomotive No. 51, one of the first two diesel locomotives deployed locally, which later became a permanent exhibit at the Hong Kong Railway Museum. The set is a definite draw for philatelists, train fans and the general public alike.
Official first day covers at $1 each will go on sale at all post offices from Tuesday (September 14), while the special stamps and associated philatelic products will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Sha Tin Central Post Office on the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from September 14 to 20.
Information about this special stamp issue and philatelic products can be obtained from Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.com.
Ends/Monday, September 13, 2010
Issued at HKT 12:26
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