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"My Hong Kong Banknote Design Competition", jointly organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC), now invites participants to design a $2,500 banknote with the aim of encouraging the community to take an interest in the history of Hong Kong's currency.
First, second and third place winners of the children's category (eight to 12 years) will receive bookshop gift vouchers of $1,500, $1,000 and $500 respectively. They will also be invited to visit HSBC's Main Treasury. Fifty runners-up will each receive a certificate of merit. The winning designs will be displayed at the Heritage Museum in August, 2004.
The first, second and third place winners in the open category (all Hong Kong residents) will each receive a set of the new series of HSBC banknotes. Each set has an auspicious serial number - AB111111, AB222222 and AB333333 - and contains a $20, $50, $100, $500 and $1,000 note. Twenty-five runners-up will each receive an HSBC gift. Winning entries will be displayed at HSBC Main Building in October, 2004.
Each participant is allowed to submit only one entry. The deadlines for submitting the entries are July 17 to 31 for the children's category, and August 17 to 31 for the open category. Entries should be submitted together with a completed entry form to the Heritage Museum. Entry forms are available for collection at the Heritage Museum and 24 specified HSBC branches.
The competition is part of the activities of the "Banknotes that Tell a Story" exhibition, a joint presentation by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and HSBC, which features the history of banknote design in Hong Kong. It runs at the Heritage Museum from April 28 to November 8.
The exhibition showcases 317 invaluable historical banknotes and artifacts. Top exhibits include never-before-shown banknotes, sketches, artwork and printing plates selected from HSBC's collection. Other valuable exhibits include the 2003 banknote series, the gold models of HSBC headquarters buildings completed in 1935 and 1985, and historical photographs.
The Heritage Museum is located at 1 Man Lam Road, Shatin. For details of the banknote design competition, visit the Heritage Museum's website at http://hk.heritage.museum or call 2180 8260/2180 8192.
Ends/Thursday, July 8, 2004
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