FDC from Hong Kong／FDC du Hong Kong

Stamp sheetlet to commemorate Hongkong Post's participation in CHINA 2009 World Stamp Exhibition／
Timbrez sheetlet pour commémorer la participation de Poste Hongkong à l'Exposition de Timbre de Monde de 2009 de Chine


"The CHINA 2009 World Stamp Exhibition will be held in Luoyang City, Henan Province, from April 10 to 16. CHINA 2009, presented in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, aims to foster closer ties and co-operation among philatelists and stamp collectors worldwide, and promote philately as a universally enjoyable hobby. The event also offers Hongkong Post an excellent chance to showcase quality stamps from Hong Kong to stamp lovers on the Mainland and around the globe."-Hong Kong Post

FDC from Hongkong／FDC du Hongkong

Judiciary





"The Judiciary is a cornerstone of our society. Its mission is to maintain an independent and effective judicial system which upholds the rule of law, safeguards the rights and freedoms of the individual, and commands confidence within and outside Hong Kong.

This set of four stamps is issued to pay tribute to the Judiciary. Each stamp features a familiar symbol of the Judiciary:

$1.40 Stamp – The Statue of Justice
The Statue of Justice, represented by the Greek goddess Themis, holds a sword in one hand and scales in the other. The scales represent the impartiality with which justice is served and the sword symbolises the power that is held by those making the decision. The statue is blindfolded to show that justice is not subject to influence. The Statue is located at the Old Supreme Court (it is where the Legislative Council Chambers has been housed since 1985).

$2.40 Stamp – The Court of Final Appeal
The Court of Final Appeal is the final appellate court in Hong Kong. It was established on 1 July 1997 pursuant to the Basic Law. It hears appeals on civil and criminal matters from the High Court, and may confirm, reverse or vary the decision of the lower courts. The Court of Final Appeal is headed by the Chief Justice, who is the President of the court. The Court of Final Appeal is the former French Mission Building, which was occupied successively by the Education Department headquarters, the Victoria District Court, the Supreme Court, and the Information Services Department. It is one of the declared monuments in Hong Kong.

$3 Stamp – Judicial Robes
Judicial robes, including wigs, are a uniform that underlines the dignity and impartiality of the judicial process. The design of Judges’ robes remains the same after Hong Kong’s change of sovereignty in 1997. In the case of the Court of Final Appeal established on 1 July 1997, new judicial robes had to be designed. Judicial robes are regarded by many as a distinctive symbol of the continuation of the common law in Hong Kong. The stamp presents the judicial attire for different courts, namely (from left to right), the Court of Final Appeal, the Magistrates’ Courts, the District Court (for criminal cases) and the Court of First Instance of the High Court (for criminal cases).

$5 Stamp – The Chief Justice’s Mace
The Mace is a ceremonial staff that symbolises the office of the Chief Justice and the institution of the independent Judiciary upholding the rule of law. Since 1 July 1997, the emblem of the HKSAR has replaced the crown at the top of the staff. Each January, the Judiciary organizes the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year to focus public attention on the rule of law and the administration of justice. At the Ceremonial Opening, the Mace is carried by a mace-bearer preceding the Chief Justice."-Hong Kong Post

FDC from Hongkong／FDC du Hongkong

Hong Kong, China – Republic of Korea Joint Issue on Masks／
Timbre Emission commune Le Hong Kong- La République de la Corée:Les masques

＂Staged folk dance is a unique performance genre with a long history. Its themes cover a wide spectrum of subjects ranging from people’s daily activities to myths and legends. While folk dances from different nations display a rich variety of styles because of differences in their historical and cultural backgrounds, they do share some common features. One example is the use of masks to highlight the identity or character of individual dancers. Hongkong Post and Korea Post jointly issue a set of two stamps on "Masks" to showcase the distinct folk dance masks of the two places. This marks the ninth joint stamp issue released by Hongkong Post with other postal administrations.

Mask from Hong Kong, China — Big Head Buddha Mask in Southern Lion Dance

There are different versions of the origin of Big Head Buddha, but most are associated with lions. In the Southern Lion Dance, the first one to appear in the show is the always cheerful Big Head Buddha. A fellow with a palm leaf fan in his hand, the Big Head acts in an amusing way to provoke the lion to perform a series of agile manoeuvres, enhancing the joyous festive mood. The Big Head also plays funny tricks on the lion to induce it to "Cai Qing" (Pick the Greens) or "Po Zhen" (Smash the Battle Line), a symbol of bringing "good luck" and "bumper crops" to all households.

Mask from Republic of Korea — Chwibari Mask of Bongsan Mask Dance Drama

The Bongsan Mask Dance Drama, designated the "Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 17 of Korea", is steeped in realism. Each mask used in a performance reveals the occupation and social status of a character. Through delightfully nimble movements and humorous presentation, the dancers satirise social ills or express the concerns and frustrations of ordinary people. Their performance gives the audience an opportunity to temporarily take their minds off their worries. The most famous folk dance form in Korea, the Bongsan Mask Dance Drama is frequently staged at home and abroad during seasonal festivals and celebrations for good harvests or marvellous feats, as well as ceremonies to welcome visiting dignitaries.

With two opposite face silhouettes as the backdrop, the souvenir sheet presents two masks — a Chinese mask of "Big Head Buddha" on the left and a Korean mask of "Bongsan Mask Dance Drama (Chwibari Mask)" on the right. The theme of the stamp issue is shown trilingually in Chinese, Korean and English. The vibrant colours and contrasting patterns add an intensity to the costumed images on the stamps.＂-Hong Kong Post