“Aviation Development in Hong Kong” Special Stamps

Hong Kong’s airport plays an indispensable role in the successful development of Hong Kong into an international aviation hub. The first recorded flight at Kai Tak took place 100 years ago. Kai Tak later evolved into an airport and the passenger terminal of Kai Tak Airport was completed and commenced service in the 1960s. Though operating only with one single runway, Kai Tak Airport had become one of the busiest airports in the world by the 1990s.  For long-term development, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) was relocated to Chek Lap Kok in 1998 and has since gradually expanded to have a dual-runway and now a three-runway system. Moreover, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Airport Authority Hong Kong are pressing ahead with the “Airport City” development strategy, under which HKIA will be transformed into a node of various economic activities. Hongkong Post issues a set of special stamps on the theme of “Aviation Development in Hong Kong” to feature the thriving aviation development in the city.

Acknowledgement: Airport Authority Hong Kong, Civil Aviation Department

$2.20 Stamp – Kai Tak Airport (1960s)
Kai Tak is the birthplace of Hong Kong’s aviation industry. Once a desolate reclaimed land, Kai Tak was gradually developed into Kai Tak Airport over the years and its passenger terminal was completed and commenced service in 1962. The public observation deck, located on the rooftop of the terminal, became a must-visit spot to see people off. The stamp portrays people bidding farewell to friends and relatives from the observation deck, a place not only holding collective memories but also witnessing the history of Hong Kong’s aviation development.

$4 Stamp – Kai Tak Airport (1980s)
During the 1980s, as Hong Kong’s economy was taking off, Kai Tak Airport saw significant growth in flight movements. At the same time, residential buildings continued to spring up around the airport. The close proximity of the airport runway to numerous high-rise buildings nearby became a defining feature of Kai Tak Airport. The stamp illustrates the bustling Kai Tak Airport and the dense cluster of high-rises in its vicinity, reflecting the development of Hong Kong’s aviation industry.

$5.40 Stamp – Hong Kong International Airport (1990s)
In view of the ever-growing demand for air traffic, Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon completed its historical mission in 1998 as HKIA was relocated from Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok, marking a new milestone in Hong Kong’s aviation development. The new airport has since consolidated Hong Kong’s position as an international trade and financial centre and spurred the development of the aviation, tourism and cargo industries, as well as many other trades and sectors. The stamp features the relocated HKIA at Chek Lap Kok, highlighting the perfect blend of modernity and simplicity in this spectacular architecture.

$5.50 Stamp – Three-Runway System of Hong Kong International Airport (2020s)
To cater for long-term development and to reinforce Hong Kong’s leading status in the global aviation arena, the Three-Runway System (3RS) at HKIA was commissioned in 2024. The 3RS not only significantly enhances the passenger and cargo capacity of HKIA, but also facilitates the development of a world-class airport cluster amongst airports in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), turning a new chapter for Hong Kong’s aviation industry and overall development. The stamp showcases HKIA with the 3RS, revealing its transportation potential and efficiency.

$10 Stamp Sheetlet – Airport City
HKIA is now transforming from a city airport into an Airport City. This development project will combine core airport functions and turn HKIA into a new landmark in the region that integrates commerce, popular culture as well as entertainment and leisure experiences, so as to actively promote the sustainable development of Hong Kong and the GBA. The stamp sheetlet illustrates the Airport City blueprint, which signifies the beginning of a new era for Hong Kong’s aviation industry.

Official First Day Covers will be put on sale at $2.5 each at all post offices from 6 October 2025. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from 6 to 13 October 2025.

Stamp products include mint stamps, stamp sheets, stamp sheetlet, presentation pack, postage prepaid picture cards and serviced first day covers. Serviced first day cover and postage prepaid picture cards also available at the philatelic offices only.

Date-stamping Arrangements

• A hand-back date-stamping service with the office date-stamp and the special postmarks will be provided on 21 October 2025 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. All philatelic offices will also provide “Philatelic Bureau” pictorial postmark and its respective philatelic office pictorial postmark. The GPO-1 date-stamp impression will only be available at the General Post Office.

• All stamp products will be available at all post offices starting from 21 October 2025 for 3 months while stock lasts.

• All stamp products will be available at Hongkong Post’s online shopping platform “ShopThruPost” (website: shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) starting from 21 October 2025 at 8:00 a.m. for 6 months, while stock lasts.

Design:	CHENG Kar-wai
Printer:	Joh. Enschedé Stamps B.V., the Netherlands
Process:	Lithography
Stamp Size:	Stamp Sheet – 45 mm × 28 mm $10 Stamp Sheetlet – 50 mm × 34 mm
Stamp Layout:	Stamp Sheet – Pane of 25 stamps
Souvenir Sheet Size:	135 mm × 85 mm
Perforation:	Stamp Sheet – 13.25 × 14.25 (one elliptical perforation on each vertical) $10 Stamp Sheetlet – 14 × 14.25 (one elliptical perforation on each vertical)
Paper:	Paper with security fibres
Date of Issue:	21 October 2025