Postage stamps and postal history of Hong Kong, Part Six

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1962 saw the release of the first officially designed envelopes for first day covers, marked with ”Official First Day Cover”, for the 100th anniversary of the first postage stamp of Hong Kong. Prior to 1962 there were no official designs other than the postmarked date, and envelopes were designed instead by hobbyists such as the Hong Kong Philatelic Society and the China Philatelic Association.

Commemorative stamps with Chinese themes were first issued in 1967, featuring the Chinese zodiac. Th and the bauhinia flower and Hong Kong’s coat of arms were also incorporated as the key features on two denominations issued in 1968, the first time that local themes had been integrated in the territory’s definitive stamps. The addition of Chinese and local themes and features along with designs by local Hong Kongers became increasingly common in the 1970s and onward. The third series (1973 featured a reproduction of the bas-relief by Arnhold Machin, a design feature that would be retained in all following new series. The fourth series (1983) saw the introduction of fluorescent security markings in a design by Arthur Hacker. The fifth series (1987) featured 15 stamps. In 1988, the fifth series was reprinted with a change in shading on the Queen’s lower lip. These were reprinted in 1989, 1990 and 1991 as the stocks for certain values were running out.

In the early and mid 1990s, as the Handover of Hong Kong on 1 July 1997 drew near, British themed stamps were slowly being phased out. The sixth issue (2 September 1996) was the last set of stamps featuring Elizabeth 11. This led to an explosion of sales and stamp collecting in the local stamp market, with many hoping the stamps would sell for a profit in the future.

On 23 May 1996, it was announced that all stamps with a portrait of the Queen or any British features would become invalid on the day of the handover.  for the handover. A transitional set of definitives was issued to prepare for the handover. Nicknamed the ”neutral definitive stamps” (26 January 1997), they featured the skyline of Victoria Harbour with no British features. The neutral definitives could still be used after the handover, and colonial stamps could be exchanged up until 31 July 1997.

Source: Wikipedia

This article was first posted on 8th January 2025.

Related Indhhk articles:

1. Postage stamps and postal history of Hong Kong, Part One
2. Postage stamps and postal history of Hong Kong, Part Two
3. Postage stamps and postal history of Hong Kong, Part Three
4. Postage stamps and postal history of Hong Kong, Part Four
5. Postage stamps and postal history of Hong Kong, Part Five