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The Postmaster General, Mr Robert Footman, today (Friday) announced details on the closing of the Airport Post Office at Kai Tak and the sale of postal products in commemoration of the closing of Kai Tak Airport and the opening of the new airport.
The following details are subject to the overall arrangements for the closure of Kai Tak and the opening of the new airport remaining unchanged.
The closing for business of the Airport Post Office at Kai Tak on July 4
In order to help minimize activities at Kai Tak on July 5, its final day of operation, the existing Airport Post Office will close for business at Kai Tak at 8.30 pm on July 4 (Saturday).
The operation of the Kai Tak Airport Post Office at Kowloon Bay Post Office on July 5
On the July 5 (Sunday), which is the first day of issue of the sheetlet to commemorate the closure of Kai Tak Airport and the set of stamps to commemorate the opening of the new Hong Kong International Airport, the Kai Tak Airport Post Office will continue business in temporary accommodation in Kowloon Bay Post Office, to serve philatelists who wish to obtain the last day datestamp of the existing Airport Post Office. Kowloon Bay Post Office is located at Shop P4 & 6, Commercial Complex, Telford Gardens, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon .
Like other post offices on the first day of issue of commemorative stamps, the opening hours of the Airport Post Office on 5 July will be from 8 am to 4 pm. Counter services provided will be restricted to sale of new stamps and acceptance of registered mail only.
New Airport Post Office
The new Airport Post Office located at 7T 082, Passenger Terminal Building, 1 Cheong Hong Road, Hong Kong International Airport , will be open at 9.30 am on July 6 (Monday). This office will replace the existing Airport Post Office at the Kai Tak Airport.
The business hours of the new office will be the same as the existing office : Mondays to Saturdays : 9.30 am - 8.30 pm. Sundays & Holidays : closed.
"Hong Kong International Airport" Prestige Stamp Pack
A Prestige Stamp Pack will be put on sale at all post offices on Sunday, July 5 1998 to commemorate the reprovisioning of the Hong Kong International Airport. The Prestige Stamp Pack is priced at HK$80. It contains the following stamp products :-
* One "Closure of Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong" stamp sheetlet
*One "Closure of Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong" serviced souvenir
cover
*One set of stamps on "Hong Kong Airport" (in se-tenant format)
*One "Hong Kong Airport" stamp sheetlet
*One "Hong Kong Airport" serviced First Day Cover with 6 stamps
*One "Hong Kong Airport" serviced First Day Cover with stamp
sheetlet
A restriction of 2 packs per customer queuing will be imposed on the first day of issue on July 5 and on subsequent days until stock lasts.
Souvenir Cover commemorating the Opening of the New Airport Post Office
A souvenir cover will be issued to commemorate the opening of the new Airport Post Office on July 6. This souvenir cover, at $2 each, will be put on sale at the Airport Post Office, General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office and Tsuen Wan Post Office as from June 29.
Hand-back Service Arrangements
A hand-back service with the normal office datestamp and pictorial datestamp will be provided on July 2 at the Airport Post Office to privately made covers bearing an indication of the Hong Kong International Airport Opening Ceremony.
A hand-back service with two special postmarks will be provided on July 5 for the "Hong Kong Airport" Special Stamp and "Closure of Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong" Stamp Sheetlet at all post offices.
To mark the last day of operation of existing Airport Post Office, a hand-back service with the normal office datestamp and pictorial datestamp of the Airport Post Office will be provided on July 5 at temporary accommodation in Kowloon Bay Post Office to privately made covers bearing the wordings "Last Day Cover" .
A hand-back service with the normal datestamp and pictorial datestamp will be provided on July 6 at the 26 philatelic offices to official and privately made covers bearing an indication of the commencement of operation of the new Hong Kong International Airport.
As for the opening date of New Airport Post Office and issue date of the souvenir cover to commemorate the opening of the Office, the normal office datestamp and pictorial datestamp of the Airport Post Office will be reproduced for provision of hand-back service on July 6 at General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office and Tsuen Wan Post Office, in addition to the Airport Post Office itself, to facilitate philatelists wishing to obtain postmarks of the Airport Post Office.
End/ Friday, June 26, 1998
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