Hongkong Post to issue “Welcome Giant Pandas” special stamp (with photos)
​Hongkong Post announced today (November 28) that a stamp sheetlet and associated philatelic products on the theme of "Welcome Giant Pandas" will be released for sale on December 12 (Thursday).
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government announced on July 1, 2024, that the Central Government agreed to gift another pair of giant pandas to the HKSAR. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which makes this gift even more special. The HKSAR Government is grateful to the Central Government, and the two giant pandas arrived smoothly in Hong Kong on September 26 and will officially meet members of the public on December 8. The two pairs of giant pandas – An An and Jia Jia, and Ying Ying and Le Le – gifted by the Central Government in 1999 and 2007, respectively, have accompanied generations of Hong Kong people. The new pair of giant pandas will also bring joy and happiness to the community.
To commemorate this exciting moment, Hongkong Post will issue a stamp sheetlet and associated philatelic products on the theme of "Welcome Giant Pandas" to showcase the adorable new members of national treasures and express sincere gratitude to the Central Government for the care and support for Hong Kong.
Official first day covers for "Welcome Giant Pandas" are on sale at all post offices and Hongkong Post's online shopping mall ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) from today. The stamp sheetlet and associated philatelic products will be on sale at all post offices and ShopThruPost from December 12, while postage prepaid picture cards (air mail) and serviced first day covers affixed with the stamp sheetlet will be available at philatelic offices only.
A hand-back date-stamping service will be provided on December 12 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.
In addition, Hongkong Post will specially launch a "Welcome Giant Pandas" cachet from December 12 for stamping by members of the public. The cachet will be available in designated post offices, namely, Aberdeen Post Office, General Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office, Tuen Mun Central Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office, Kowloon Bay Post Office and Postal Gallery at Hongkong Post Building. An image of the cachet is in the Appendix.
Moreover, a series of giant panda-themed souvenir products will be available for sale at Hongkong Post's online shopping mall, ShopThruPost and three designated post offices (PostShop of General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office and Kowloon Bay Post Office) starting from December 12. Members of the public could enjoy "Early Bird Offer" by placing advance orders of the giant panda stamp and souvenir product combos on Hongkong Post website from November 28 to December 11. To tie in with the giant panda theme, the above post offices and Postal Plaza of Hongkong Post Building will also feature special decorations, and members of the public are welcome to visit and take photos.
For information about the stamp sheetlet, associated philatelic products, cachet and giant panda-themed souvenir products, please visit the Hongkong Post website (hongkongpost.hk/en/panda).
