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The Postmaster General, Mr Luk Ping Chuen, announced today (December 7) that a definitive stamp sheetlet (No. 3) would be issued on December 31, 2000 (Sunday).

This stamp sheetlet, the first hologram stamp sheetlet in Hong Kong, contains two holograms. The long vertical hologram depicts the transformation of Hong Kong from the 20th Century to the 21st Century. It incorporates colourful three-dimensional effects showing changes in landscape and major buildings during different times of the century, together with special effects showing fireworks and airport runway lighting.

The second hologram is a new rendition of the current $20 definitive stamp. This sheetlet, to be issued at the end of the 20th Century, will also be available for datestamping on January 1, 2001 marking the transition to the new century.

The stamp sheetlet is designed by Miss Liliane Tsui and printed in lithography and hologram foil by Cartor Security Printing, France. It will be sold at $20 each.

The stamp sheetlet and its associated Presentation Pack will be displayed for advance information of the public at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Sha Tin Central Post Office from December 11, 2000. Official souvenir covers at $1 each will be put on sale at all post offices on the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided souvenir covers will be accepted at all post offices from December 11 to 18, 2000.

The presentation pack containing a stamp sheetlet will be available for sale at $28 each at all post offices on 31 December 2000.

Serviced souvenir covers at $23.50 each, affixed with a stamp sheetlet and cancelled with the special postmark, will be available at the 38 philatelic offices on December 31, 2000.

Each customer purchase will be restricted to twenty stamp sheetlets, five serviced souvenir covers and five presentation packs on the first day of issue on December 31, 2000 and subsequent days while stocks last.

To meet philatelists' expectations of a postmark on the issue day (December 31, 2000) as well as the first day of the new century, hand-back service will be provided on both December 31, 2000 and January 1, 2001 at all post offices for official and privately-made covers bearing an indication of the event and a local address. Two special postmarks will be introduced. The GPO-1 datestamp and "Hongkong Post Stamps" pictorial postmark will also be available for hand-back service at all philatelic offices on these two days.

All post offices will be open on December 31, 2000 and January 1, 2001 to provide a full range of counter services. The opening hours of all offices will be from 9 am to 2 pm on December 31, 2000 and from 9 am to 4 pm on January 1, 2001, the first day of issue of the Year of the Snake Special Stamps. The same opening hours are also applicable to the public hall of the Hongkong Post Stamps Philatelic Bureau which will also open for datestamping covers with the "Hongkong Post Stamps" pictorial postmark, the GPO-1 postmark as well as the special postmarks on these two days.

End/Thursday, December 7, 2000

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