Hongkong Post announced today (December 20) the release of a set of special stamps for the "Year of the Rooster", together with associated philatelic products, which will go on sale on January 7, 2017 (Saturday).
 
     The Lunar New Year heralds the beautiful spring season and marks the fresh beginning of a year. To welcome a bright and blissful year to come, Hongkong Post will issue Chinese New Year special stamps which are full of festive motifs and traditional auspicious symbols.
 
     In Chinese folklore, the rooster, one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, represents integrity, nobility and shrewdness. To usher in the Year of the Rooster in 2017, Hongkong Post will present a special set of four stamps and a stamp sheetlet, portraying roosters in different art forms including cloth fabric, iron sheet, coloured seashell and golden silverware. The stamp designs are enriched with patterns of auspicious flowers in the background to symbolise a peaceful life and longevity as well as prosperity and good fortune. These stamps are the sixth set in the fourth Lunar New Year special stamp issue series issued by Hongkong Post.
 
     To celebrate the Spring Festival, a silk stamp sheetlet featuring an embroidered rooster complemented by vividly coloured peonies, representing wishes for a joyful year ahead, will also be issued. Furthermore, as the fifth issue in its second series, Hongkong Post will release a "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – Monkey/Rooster". The Monkey stamp is hot-foiled with silver while the Rooster stamp is affixed with 22K gold-plated lace metal. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, this stamp sheetlet makes a truly valuable collectible.
 
     Two Heartwarming Stamps (2017 Version) "Year of the Rooster" mini-panes, which adopt the respective designs of the $1.70 and the $3.70 mint stamps in the "Year of the Rooster" special stamp issue of 2017, will also be released for sale at all philatelic offices from January 7, 2017
 
     In addition to stamps, "Year of the Rooster" red packets, featuring images of the four mint stamps on the same theme, will go on sale at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office and Tuen Mun Central Post Office, as well as Hongkong Post’s Internet Shopping Mall – "ShopThruPost" (www.shopthrupost.hk), starting from January 7, 2017.
 
     Official First Day Covers for the "Year of the Rooster" and Official Souvenir Covers for the "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – Monkey/Rooster" will go on sale at $1.30 each at all post offices from December 21, 2016. Official First Day Covers (Prestige Version) for "Year of the Rooster" and Official Souvenir Covers (Prestige Version) for the "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – Monkey/Rooster" will also be available at $8 each at all philatelic offices. These items will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office and Tuen Mun Central Post Office from the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from 21 to 29 December, 2016.
 
     All philatelic offices will extend their operating hours until 5pm on January 7, 2017 except for the General Post Office and the Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, which will be open until 6pm, and the Airport Post Office, which will be open until 8.30pm. Non-philatelic post offices will be open during their normal business hours (please refer to Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.hk for details).
 
     Information about this special stamp issue and associated philatelic products is available on Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.hk and via the Hongkong Post Mobile App.

Ends/Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:55

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