Hongkong Post to issue "Intangible Cultural Heritage - Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade" special stamps (with photos)
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The Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade was inscribed onto the third National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011 and the first Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong in 2017. Legend has it that Tai O was hit by a plague over a century ago, and, in an effort to purify the community and drive away the epidemic, fishermen carried the deity statues they had received from four local temples onto sacred sampans, which were towed by dragon boats, to parade along the waterways. This custom, known locally as the "Dragon Boat Water Parade", has endured since then. To this day, three traditional fishermen's associations in Tai O remain committed to passing on and promoting this folk tradition. Hongkong Post will release a set of four stamps, two stamp sheetlets and associated philatelic products on the theme of "Intangible Cultural Heritage - Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade" to promote this intangible cultural heritage of Hong Kong, letting the public appreciate the essence of local traditions.
Official first day covers for "Intangible Cultural Heritage - Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade" will be on sale at all post offices and on Hongkong Post's online shopping platform ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) from tomorrow (June 4). This set of special stamps and associated philatelic products will be on sale at all post offices and on ShopThruPost from June 18, while serviced first day covers affixed with the special stamps will be available at philatelic offices only.
A hand-back date-stamping service will be provided on June 18 at all post offices for official first day covers/souvenir covers/privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address.
Information about this set of special stamps and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:00
Issued at HKT 11:00
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