Hongkong Post to issue “Christmas Stamps IV” special stamps (with photos)

     To celebrate the joyous festival of Christmas, Hongkong Post will launch a special stamp issue and associated philatelic products with the theme "Christmas Stamps IV" on December 4 (Friday), with hearty greetings to fellow Hongkongers.
      
     This set of four stamps and self-adhesive stamp sheetlets feature Santa Claus, in lively and interesting illustrations, who pays a visit to Hong Kong to get an authentic taste of the city, from savouring Chinese tea and dim sum in a traditional tea restaurant to playing on the swings and slide in a children's playground and practising Tai Chi on the waterfront of Victoria Harbour and playing Chinese chess afterwards, as well as taking a tram ride with the snowman and the gingerbread man to send presents and seasonal blessings. Each scene is uniquely Hong Kong and all stamps are specially printed with gold foil stamping to enliven the festive mood.
      
     Moving on to the illustration on the souvenir sheet, it shows Santa bringing the gingerbread man to give presents on both sides of Victoria Harbour while revelling in the spectacular scenery on the cross-harbour ferry. The illustration is simple yet captivating in style. The self-adhesive souvenir sheet extends a warm-hearted greeting to everyone by spelling "Merry Christmas" with icons of different local elements, such as dim sum, the clock tower and chopsticks, filling the city with the love, peace and joyfulness of this widely celebrated festival.
      
     Santa also adopts a distinctive local style when giving presents in Hong Kong. The design of the presentation pack depicts Santa carrying a red-white-blue nylon bag, a symbolic icon of Hong Kong, to deliver presents. The scene is lovely and special, furnished with an air of harmony and cosiness that brings a knowing smile to everyone. The inner pages are embellished with various Christmas ornaments of local characteristics, such as the old-style nest letter box, dim sum, traditional neon signage and the like, further highlighting the theme of "Santa visiting Hong Kong".
      
     Starting from December 4, this set of special stamps and associated philatelic products, including a first day cover, mint stamps, a souvenir sheet, a self-adhesive souvenir sheet, a self-adhesive stamp sheetlet, a presentation pack, postage prepaid Christmas cards and a serviced first day cover, will be placed on sale at post offices.
      
     Information about this special stamp issue and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk) or the Hongkong Post mobile app.