Hong Kong was returned to China on 1 July 1997, and to accompany this historic occasion, the Hongkong Post issued a new set of definitive stamps in January 1997 that replaced the definitive stamps bearing the portrait of the British sovereign. This set of new stamps featured the coastline of Victoria Harbour and, carrying no connotations of sovereignty, could be used in Hong Kong both before and after the handover.

Since the return of Hong Kong to China, the Hongkong Post had issued three sets of definitive stamps by 2012: the first, produced in 1999, depicted the scenery and famous landmarks in Hong Kong; the second, from 2002, highlighted the mixture of East and West that is characteristic of Hong Kong’s culture; the third, issued in 2006, featured a wide selection of the birds that can be found in Hong Kong.

The themes on Hong Kong’s special stamps have also diversified over time. Since 1994, the Hongkong Post has invited local citizens and interested groups to put forward suggestions and offer advice on themes for stamps, and their proposals often lead to designs that find their way into stamp issues once they are endorsed by the Stamp Advisory Committee. In addition, children’s stamps were launched in 2001: featuring themes from fairy tales, games and toys, these stamps aim to encourage stamp collecting from a young age.

• Commemorative and Special Stamps after the Handover