Hongkong Post announced today (October 25) the release of a stamp sheetlet to commemorate the bicentenary of Ying Wa College, together with associated philatelic products, on November 9 (Friday).
 
     Founded in Malacca in 1818, and relocated to Hong Kong in 1843, Ying Wa College is the oldest school extant in Hong Kong. The name of the school, Ying Wa, the transliteration of the Chinese school name literally meaning "English and Chinese", reflects the school's founding mission of promoting reciprocal cultivation of Chinese and English literature.
 
     Ying Wa College has played a pivotal role in the development of Sinology, Chinese translation, Protestant missionary work in China, Hong Kong's Western education model, and publication and printing of Chinese newspapers and periodicals. Today, living up to the school's mission of spreading the gospel, Ying Wa College is committed to providing quality education for students to foster all-round, balanced development and to nurture them to be good citizens with talents and virtues. The year 2018 marks the bicentenary of Ying Wa College, and Hongkong Post is issuing a stamp sheetlet to commemorate this important milestone.
 
     Bearing the motto "Live the Mission, Brave the Course", the stamp sheetlet shows the past and present school buildings of the College over the years. The stamp sheetlet is perforated to produce the Chinese word "皕", meaning two hundreds, to echo the theme of the 200th anniversary of the College. Featured in the stamp is the Reverend Robert Morrison, the founder of the College and the first Protestant missionary to China.
 
     Official First Day Covers at $1.30 each will be put on sale at all post offices from tomorrow (October 26). The stamp sheetlet and associated philatelic products will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office and Tuen Mun Central Post Office from the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from tomorrow to November 1.
 
     Information about this special stamp issue and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.hk and via the Hongkong Post mobile app.

Ends/Thursday, October 25, 2018
Issued at HKT 9:00

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