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A set of special stamps featuring Chinese percussion instruments will be issued on Thursday, November 6, the Postmaster General, Mr Allan Chiang, announced today (October 9).

The stamps are designed by Mr Benny Lau and printed in photogravure by Joh. Enschede Stamps Security Printers BV, the Netherlands. The stamps depict five Chinese percussion instruments: drum ($1.40), clappers ($2.40), cymbals ($3), gongs ($5) and chimes ($13).

Information about associated philatelic products for this issue and the sales restrictions starting from November 6 are as follows:

Products: Mint Stamps (4 denominations)

Unit Selling Price: $1.40 ; $2.40; $3; $5

Sales Restriction (per customer queuing): 10 sheets of stamps of each denomination (250 sets of stamps)

Products: Stamp Sheetlet (containing a $13 stamp)

Unit Selling Price: $13

Sales Restriction (per customer queuing): 5 sheets

Products: Presentation Pack (with full set of 4 stamps and a stamp sheetlet)

Unit Selling Price: $35

Sales Restriction (per customer queuing): 5 packs

Products: Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a set of 4 stamps (cancelled by special postmark, only available at 39 philatelic offices on November 6, 2003)

Unit Selling Price: $15.3

Sales Restriction (per customer queuing): 5 covers

Products: Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a stamp sheetlet (cancelled by special postmark, only available at 39 philatelic offices on November 6, 2003)

Unit Selling Price: $16.50

Sales Restriction (per customer queuing): 5 covers

The stamps will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Shatin Central Post Office from October 16. Official First Day 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 October 16 to 22.

Hand-back service will be provided at all post offices on November 6 for official and privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address. A special postmark will also be introduced.

The "GPO-1" postmark, the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark and the philatelic office pictorial postmarks will also be available for hand-back service at all philatelic offices on that day.

On November 6, the public hall of the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau will open from 9am to 5pm for datestamping covers with the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark, the "GPO-1" postmark as well as the special postmark.

Ends/Thursday, October 9, 2003

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