Postage stamps and postal history of Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
Hong Kong
formerly produced postage stamp
s with the name Hong Kong, with the face of the reigning monarchs of the United Kingdom
, or with the royal symbols (e.g. "E.R."). After the Hong Kong's transfer of sovereignty to China
, stamps are now issued with the name Hong Kong, China. British Hong Kong postage stamps are no longer valid for prepayment of postage, nor are they repurchased by the Post Office.
established an office in the region. Merchants were trading in Hong Kong at the two sides of Victoria Harbour
for some years before the establishment of the British
possession
in 1842. They had complained about the absence of proper postal services and therefore the Postal Department was established.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
formerly produced postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s with the name Hong Kong, with the face of the reigning monarchs of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, or with the royal symbols (e.g. "E.R."). After the Hong Kong's transfer of sovereignty to China
Transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong
The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, referred to as ‘the Return’ or ‘the Reunification’ by the Chinese and ‘the Handover’ by others, took place on 1 July 1997...
, stamps are now issued with the name Hong Kong, China. British Hong Kong postage stamps are no longer valid for prepayment of postage, nor are they repurchased by the Post Office.
First posts
The postal system in Hong Kong began in 1841 when the Royal MailRoyal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
established an office in the region. Merchants were trading in Hong Kong at the two sides of Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on the South China Sea were instrumental in Hong Kong's establishment as a British colony and its subsequent...
for some years before the establishment of the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
possession
Treaty of Nanking
The Treaty of Nanking was signed on 29 August 1842 to mark the end of the First Opium War between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Qing Dynasty of China...
in 1842. They had complained about the absence of proper postal services and therefore the Postal Department was established.
First stamps
On 8 December 1862, the Office issued the first set of Hong Kong postage stamps. Before that, only British soldiers in Hong Kong could use British stamps while other local residents did not have any.Later issues
Hong Kong has issued a variety of stamps since 1862.See also
- China Philatelic Society of LondonChina Philatelic Society of LondonThe China Philatelic Society of London is a philatelic organisation devoted to the study of all aspects of Chinese philately from the Municipal Posts of the Treaty Ports to the People's Republic and Taiwan.-Origins:...
- China Stamp SocietyChina Stamp SocietyThe China Stamp Society is a philatelic organization dedicated to the appreciation of the postage stamps and postal history of China, including the Treaty Ports, Foreign Offices in China, the Japanese Occupation, Hong Kong, Macao, Manchukuo and Tibet....
- Hong Kong Philatelic SocietyHong Kong Philatelic SocietyThe Hong Kong Philatelic Society was established in 1921 and is the oldest philatelic organisation in Hong Kong. Members were mainly Europeans before the war and after 1946, more and more Chinese became members and the Society has grown in stature...
- Hong Kong Study CircleHong Kong Study CircleThe Hong Kong Study Circle was founded in 1951 to record and circulate information on the postage stamps and postal history of Hong Kong and the Treaty ports.- Publications :...
Sources
- Stanley Gibbons Ltd: various catalogues.
- Rossiter, StuartStuart RossiterPercival "Stuart" Bryce Rossiter was a renowned British philatelist and postal historian who wrote extensively about British postal history and postage stamps of British colonies in Africa and was actively involved in numerous philatelic institutions...
& John Flower. The Stamp Atlas. London: Macdonald, 1986. ISBN 0356108627 - Webb, F. W. (1961) The Philatelic and Postal History of Hong Kong and the Treaty Ports of China and Japan, Royal Philatelic Society London.
External links
- China Philatelic Association, Hong Kong
- Encyclopaedia of Postal History
- About Hong Kong stamps Hong Kong Philatelic Society
- Stamp Issuing Entities Of The World Linn's Stamp NewsLinn's Stamp NewsLinn's Stamp News an American publication, is the largest weekly newspaper for stamp collectors, with a paid circulation of just over 46,000 Circulation peaked at almost 92,000 in 1978 and has declined ever since because fewer new collectors are subscribing to replace those who subscribed in the...
- Queen Victoria Stamps of Hong Kong, China Philatelic Assn., Hong Kong.