A predominantly Chinese community, Hong Kong observes many of the customs of traditional Chinese festivals. Hongkong Post will issue "Hong Kong Festivals" special stamps to portray five traditional festivals and the way people celebrate them, highlighting the distinctive culture and social customs of our city. Set in refreshing and uplifting colours, four new stamps will highlight the traditional customs of the Tin Hau Festival, Kwun Yum Festival, Buddha's Birthday and Tuen Ng Festival, while a new stamp sheetlet is themed on the Mid-Autumn Festival. In vivacious colours reflecting the celebrating mood of the festival, it carries a stamp that features a traditional star fruit-shaped lantern and mooncakes.

Official First Day Covers will be on sale at $1 each at all post offices from May 8. The stamps and associated philatelic products will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Sha Tin Central Post Office from the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from May 8 to 14. Further information is available on Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.com and the Hongkong Post Mobile App.

Appendix

Special Stamp Issue - "Hong Kong Festivals".

One mail collection will be arranged for all street posting boxes except those located on outlying islands and in remote areas.

For more information, customers may call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222 or visit the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.com .

For more information, customers may call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline on 2921 2222 or visit the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.com .

Hongkong Post and France are jointly issuing a set of four stamps on art to showcase vintage paintings and contemporary sculptures from Hong Kong and France, reflecting their rich heritage in art. The two paintings, both works from the 19th century, employ a similar colour scheme with realistic rendering and artists' materials originating from the West, while the two sculptures, created in the 20th century, were both inspired by animals. This marks the 12th joint stamp issue between Hongkong Post and other postal administrations. The stamp issue demonstrates the great passion for art that Hong Kong and France share and showcases the cultural treasures of the two places.

Official First Day Covers will be on sale at $1 each at all post offices from April 19. Stamps and associated philatelic products will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Sha Tin Central Post Office from the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from April 19 to 25. Further information can be obtained from the website of Hongkong Post at www.hongkongpost.com.

Appendix

Special stamp issue - "Hong Kong, China - France Joint Issue on Art".

On April 6 and 9, one mail collection daily will be arranged from all street posting boxes except those located on outlying islands and in remote areas. There will be no mail collection on April 7 and 8.

For more information, customers may call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222 or visit the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.com.

For more information, customers may call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222 or visit the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.com.

From the same day, selected philatelic products issued by the postal administrations of Canada, Macau, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia and the United Kingdom would also be put on sale at philatelic offices (at the General Post Office, these products are available at Postshop). The annual albums and the philatelic products will also be available for sale at the Hongkong Post Internet shopping mall - "ShopThruPost" (www.shopthrupost.hk).

Details of the philatelic products, the selling prices and sales quota for each item are listed in the Appendix. Photographs showing these philatelic products are attached.

Further information about these products can be obtained from the Hongkong Post Stamps website at www.hongkongpoststamps.com, or by calling the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau hotline 2785 5711.

Appendix

Hongkong Post today (March 13) announced the sale of Mainland and overseas philatelic products.

Kwun Tong Post Office, presently located at G/F, Kwun Tong District Branch Offices Building, 6 Tung Yan Street, Kwun Tong, will be closed down after the close of business on March 17 (Saturday). The new Kwun Tong Post Office at G/F, Units A and B, Bamboos Centre, 52 Hung To Road, Kwun Tong, will open for business on March 19 (Monday), providing the current range of counter services in a barrier-free environment. The business hours of Kwun Tong Post Office will remain unchanged as follows:

Monday to Friday: 9.30am to 5pm
Saturday: 9.30am to 1pm

Customers who have enquiries may contact the Hongkong Post general enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.

Founded in 1862, Queen's College was the first government secondary school set up in Hong Kong. It also pioneered teacher education locally. Over the years, Queen's College has produced many notable alumni who excel in various fields and contribute to the development of Hong Kong.

Set in a nostalgic sepia tone, the stamp sheetlet depicts the old school building on Hollywood Road in the foreground against the present Causeway Road campus in the background, highlighting the long history of Queen's College and its commitment to education over the past 150 years. On the right is a shield-shaped stamp, modelled on the school badge of Queen's College and the first of its kind launched by Hongkong Post. A mini-pane containing four $10 stamps printed in different methods using silk-screen glitter ink, embossing, lacquer and 22K gold plating with embossing is also available.

Official First Day Covers will be on sale at $1 each at all post offices from March 13 while the stamp sheetlet and the mini-pane and associated philatelic products will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Sha Tin Central Post Office from the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from March 13 to 19. Further information can be obtained from the website of Hongkong Post at www.hongkongpost.com.

Appendix

Special stamp issue - "The 150th Anniversary of Queen's College".

Details of the philatelic products, the selling prices and sales quotas for each customer are listed in the Appendix. Photographs showing these philatelic products are attached.

Further information about these products can be obtained from the Hongkong Post Stamps website at www.hongkongpoststamps.com, or by calling the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau hotline at 2785 5711.

Appendix

Sale of Mainland and overseas philatelic products.

Valentine's Day on February 14 is a traditional festival in the West, during which lovers, families and friends give presents to each other to express their affection. To mark Valentine's Day this year, Hongkong Post will release the specially designed "Heartwarming Stamps Mini-pane with Fragrance". Using the same "Love and Care" design of the second series of "Heartwarming Stamps" of 2006, this issue features a refreshing layout and stamp tabs with endearing images. The colourful heart-shaped graphics on the stamps are delicately blended with a hint of passion to convey tender love and heartfelt wishes. For the first time, Hongkong Post has infused the "Heartwarming Stamps" mini-panes with the fragrance of roses to help fill this Valentine's Day with romance and sweetness.

Official souvenir covers were put on sale for $1 each at all post offices today. The mini-pane and associated philatelic products are on display at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Sha Tin Central Post Office. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers are being accepted at all philatelic offices until February 6. Further information can be obtained from the website of Hongkong Post at www.hongkongpost.com.

Starting from February 6, orders for the Heartwarming Stamps Mini-pane with Fragrance Customised Service will be accepted via the Hongkong Post Stamps website at www.hongkongpoststamps.com and the Philatelic Bureau. Further information can be obtained from the Hongkong Post Stamps website.

Appendix

The "Heartwarming Stamps Mini-pane with Fragrance" special stamp issue.

Hongkong Post has prepared a selection of fabulous Valentine's Day gifts. One of our many special gifts is the first-ever, limited edition "Heartwarming customised stamps with rose fragrance gift set". Packaging in a fairy-tale book style, this scented gift set comes with six naturally preserved roses specially imported from Japan. This gift is the perfect symbol of eternal love and commitment. Customers can also personalise the gift with two memorable photographs as well as a message, making the gift even more meaningful. Only 500 pieces of this gift set will be available.

There are also other gift sets for men and women such as fresh-cut flower bouquets, soft and adorable plush items, home-made cookies and unique gift sets by local designers. All gifts come with a beautiful greeting card from a reputable local illustrator, Chocolate Rain, in which customers can print their personal messages to their loved ones.

Customers will be able to purchase these gifts through the "One-stop, one-platform" website - ShopThruPost ( www.shopthrupost.hk ) from now until February 5 while stock lasts. Also, they can be sure that all gifts will be delivered on time on February 14. ShopThruPost is simply a convenient and secure way to shop this Valentine's Day.

To make the occasion even more special, customers can show their love to the less fortunate by making a donation of $20 to a list of predetermined charity organisations. For customers who wish to enquire more about our service or products, please call the Hongkong Post hotline 2921 2222 or visit the ShopThruPost website at www.shopthrupost.hk.

Appendix

Photos and messages can be tagged to the "Heartwarming customised stamps with rose fragrance gift set", making the gift set a precious memento of blissful moments.

The gift set adopts a fairy tale book design. Setting in a aqua blue tone, the cover is attached with a pearl-white ribbon.

Both the roses and the egg box are imported from Japan after vacuum treatment. The roses can be preserved for a long time, thus reflecting your everlasting love.

This year, Hongkong Post launches its customised Valentine's Day gift-giving and delivery service at ShopThruPost, creating a truly memorable experience for our customers and their loved ones.

This year, Hongkong Post launches its customised Valentine's Day gift-giving and delivery service at ShopThruPost, creating a truly memorable experience for our customers and their loved ones.

There are also other gift sets for men and women such as a unique gift sets by local designers. All gifts come with a beautiful greeting card from a reputable local illustrator, Chocolate Rain, in which customers can print their personal messages to their loved ones.

There are also other gift sets for men and women such as a unique gift sets by local designers. All gifts come with a beautiful greeting card from a reputable local illustrator, Chocolate Rain, in which customers can print their personal messages to their loved ones.

On January 22 and 25, one mail collection daily will be arranged for all street posting boxes except those located on outlying islands and in remote areas. On January 23, the first day of the Lunar New Year, one collection will be made for the posting boxes of the General Post Office, the International Mail Centre Post Office, the Kowloon Central Post Office and the Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office.

For more information, customers may call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222 or visit the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.com.

Appendix

The Lunar New Year is the most important Chinese festivity, and follows a 12-year cycle with each year associated with one of the zodiac signs. Hongkong Post has issued special stamps to mark this auspicious occasion since 1967, and this is the first issue in the fourth series of Lunar New Year stamps.

People born in Year of the Dragon are said to be confident, courageous and clever. The special stamps vividly portray four imperial dragons in various forms, and are decorated with gold-foiled clouds to convey an air of festivity. Hongkong Post has launched its first-ever silk stamp sheetlet for the occasion, making the sheetlet a precious Lunar New Year gift for relatives and friends. A sheetlet with two stamps featuring the Rabbit and the Dragon embossed with genuine gold and 99.9 per cent pure silver is also available, and we have produced a set of two sheetlets capturing all twenty-four stamps in the Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals series.

Official First Day Covers for the "Year of the Dragon" Special Stamps and official Souvenir Covers for the "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals - Rabbit/Dragon" and "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals - A Complete Collectible Set" will be put on sale at $1 each at all post offices from today. A prestige version of official First Day Covers for the "Year of the Dragon" special stamps will also be available at $8 each at all post offices. These items will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Sha Tin Central Post Office on the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from today to January 6, 2012.

While the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office and Airport Post Office will maintain their normal full-day operating hours, the other post offices (except mobile post offices) will extend their business hours to 5pm on January 14, 2012.

Information about this special stamp issue and associated philatelic products can be obtained from the website of Hongkong Post at www.hongkongpost.com.

Appendix

This Android version carries the same functionality as the iPhone version, which was launched in June this year. The mobile application provides the following functions:

• Mail tracking and relaying the delivery status of mail via SMS or e-mail;
• Indicating the nearest post offices, posting boxes and mobile post offices on a digital map;
• Providing a postage calculator and the ability to compare the cost of different services for the same piece of mail; and
• Receiving the latest Hongkong Post communications, including notices, press releases and promotions.

Further information about the Android application can be obtained from the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.com, or by calling the Hongkong Post Hotline at 2921 2222.

Screen Captured of the Hongkong Post Android Mobile App