Hongkong Post unveils new stamp issues for July to December 2026
Hongkong Post announced today (June 18) that five sets of special stamps on various themes will be issued from July to December 2026. Each stamp issue has its own ingenious design and distinctive style, making the stamps valuable collectables for philatelists and the public.
Located in a subtropical region, Hong Kong enjoys valuable geographical features - mountainous terrain and extensive coastline - and distinct seasons. They together nurture a rich variety of natural habitats, providing homes for a wide range of flora and fauna. Following the release of the "Biodiversity" special stamps in 2010, Hongkong Post will issue a set of four stamps on the theme of "Biodiversity II" to showcase the city's distinctive biodiversity, with a view to raising the public's awareness of ecological conservation and inspiring their collaboration in protecting our natural treasures.
Kowloon City District boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage and has undergone tremendous changes over the past few decades. Once home to the legendary Kowloon Walled City, the district has ushered in significant development opportunities since the relocation of Kai Tak Airport to Chek Lap Kok in 1998. Following the successive completion of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and the Kai Tak Sports Park, Kowloon City District will host more international and national sporting events, further boosting the development of local tourism. Hongkong Post will issue a set of four stamps on the theme of "Hong Kong Past and Present Series: Kowloon City District", setting out with the public on a journey through time to savour the past and present of Kowloon City District as well as its changing landscape.
Guangcai, the shortened form of "Guangzhou painted porcelain" or "Canton Famille Rose Porcelain", is one of the traditional crafts of Lingnan culture. The Guangcai making technique was inscribed onto the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong in 2024. The technique dates back to the early Qing dynasty and was transmitted from Guangzhou to Hong Kong in the 1920s. In addition to conserving the traditional hand-painting technique and auspicious patterns, Guangcai produced in Hong Kong also incorporates local painting techniques and special motifs, hence the name Gangcai ("Hong Kong painted porcelain"). Hongkong Post will issue special stamps on the theme of "Guangcai Making Technique" to promote Lingnan craftsmanship and local intangible cultural heritage, showcasing the ingenuity of Hong Kong artisans that has been passed down through generations.
Inscribed onto the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, the "24 Solar Terms" of the Chinese calendar reflect the change in seasons and meteorological patterns. Subsequent to the "24 Solar Terms - Spring", "24 Solar Terms - Summer" and "24 Solar Terms - Autumn" special stamps issued in 2020, 2023 and 2025 respectively, Hongkong Post will issue special stamps themed on "24 Solar Terms - Winter", featuring six solar terms of winter, namely "Winter Commences", "Light Snow", "Heavy Snow", "Winter Solstice", "Moderate Cold" and "Severe Cold". As the final episode of the "24 Solar Terms" series, this special stamp set marks the successful completion of the entire four seasons stamp collection.
As a treasure of Chinese culture, Chinese medicine has a long history in disease prevention and treatment as well as health preservation and has made a significant contribution to safeguarding people's health. With the implementation of various policy measures, and the successive commissioning of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong and the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, Chinese medicine has become an important integral part of Hong Kong's healthcare system. Hongkong Post will release a set of four stamps and one stamp sheetlet on the theme of "Development of Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong" to showcase key milestones in the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong.
In addition, the "2025 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps" with new denominations are expected to be issued later this year. Details will be announced in due course.
Customers may place advance orders for the above new stamp products from today on Hongkong Post's online shopping platform ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk). Customers may also visit the Facebook page "@Hongkong Post Stamps" (www.facebook.com/HKPStamps) for more details. Customers who place orders by July 2 (Thursday) will receive attractive gifts and bonus points. Further information about placing orders can be obtained from the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk) or by calling the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau hotline at 2785 5711.
Source: AI-found images
Hong Kong's higher education system hits new level, consolidating city's position as international education hub
A spokesman for the Education Bureau said today (June 18) that with the Government's full commitment to developing Hong Kong into an education hub, coupled with the support of a series of policy measures, the city's higher education system has again excelled. According to the latest 2027 World University Rankings published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), an international higher education institution, the eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) have achieved outstanding results, with five of them maintaining their positions among the world's top 100.
While the University of Hong Kong has continued to hold its position at 11th in the world, the overall rankings of the other seven UGC-funded universities have all risen significantly compared to last year, which is highly encouraging. Notably, the Chinese University of Hong Kong rose 14 places to 18th. This represents the first time that two Hong Kong universities rank in the global top 20. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology rose 11 places to 33rd, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University climbed four places to 50th, entering the world's top 50 for the first time. These exciting achievements not only fully recognise the unremitting efforts of Hong Kong's post-secondary education sector to strive for excellence, but also bear testimony again to the significant progress made by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in developing Hong Kong into an international post-secondary education hub, as well as nurturing and attracting top-notch talent.
The spokesman said, "These achievements fully affirm the effectiveness of the HKSAR Government's steadfast investment in education and its full support through the UGC for institutions to continuously innovate, optimise, expand capacity, and enhance quality. The significant year-on-year rise in the overall rankings of our institutions further validates Hong Kong's strong appeal as a premier hub for international high-end talent. The stellar performance of UGC-funded universities in the international rankings is by no means accidental. On one hand, it relies on the tireless efforts of all institutions to actively recruit world-class scholars and invest in infrastructure. On the other hand, the HKSAR Government's stable resource investment, clear and supportive policy guidance, as well as the rigorous quality assurance implemented through the University Accountability Agreements, are also of paramount importance."
The HKSAR Government has been working closely with the higher education sector. Through the 2025-28 triennium, a crucial bridge has been built to align national strategies, Hong Kong's needs, and university development. Universities are also encouraged to review and launch programmes in response to government policy guidance, market demands, and industry trends, providing students with appropriate curricula to cope with future societal changes. In the 2025-28 triennium, UGC-funded universities have introduced a total of 27 new undergraduate programmes related to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and the 'eight centres', covering fields such as AI, creative industries, and data science, thereby creating opportunities for young people to give full play to their strengths. The Government will continue to promote the internationalisation and diversification of post-secondary education, which aims to not only enhance Hong Kong's development momentum but also make proactive contributions to the nation's development.
The spokesman continued, "This year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. The formidable strength demonstrated by Hong Kong's higher education system aligns perfectly with the strategic goals set out in the National 15th Five-Year Plan to build a leading nation in education, technology, and talent. In recent years, the HKSAR Government has introduced a number of forward-looking measures to attract global talent across the board, while continuously optimising the ecosystem for nurturing local talent."
Hong Kong's high-quality higher education has always been very popular among students from different places. In the 2025/26 academic year the eight funded universities hosted over 30 000 non-local students from more than 100 countries or regions, representing a year-on-year increase of about 14 per cent compared to the 2024/25 academic year (Note). To support the post-secondary education sector to grow bigger and stronger, the Government has raised the admission ceiling for non-local students in taught programmes at funded post-secondary institutions to 50 per cent, and increased the over-enrolment ceiling for self-financing places in funded research postgraduate programmes to 120 per cent, among other measures.
In terms of scientific research, the Research Grants Council (RGC) under the UGC offers more than 20 research grants, distinguished scholar schemes, and fellowship programmes, funding over 1 500 new projects annually. Furthermore, a new round of the Research Matching Grant Scheme with $1.5 billion in funding was launched in 2025, and the RGC Overseas Research Fellowship Scheme was newly introduced this year to further foster a vibrant research environment.
Concurrently, the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong, comprising various HKSAR Government bureaux and departments, has fully commenced its work. In collaboration with major institutions, the Task Force is stepping up promotion of Hong Kong's excellent academic, research, and international collaboration resources on the Chinese Mainland and overseas. It also aims to attract outstanding talent from all over the world through initiatives such as expanding the Belt and Road Scholarship.
To support universities in strengthening their promotion of the "Study in Hong Kong" brand, the UGC has allocated approximately $40 million in the 2025-28 triennium to the Heads of Universities Committee's Standing Committee on Internationalisation, which comprises the eight UGC-funded universities, to organise and participate in various activities to promote the "Study in Hong Kong" brand globally.
The spokesman concluded, "Under the grand blueprint of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong's higher education is on course to usher in an unprecedented golden period of opportunity. We will continue to leverage the unique advantages of Hong Kong's highly internationalised and diversified post-secondary education, support institutions in building world-class universities and disciplines, and deepen Hong Kong's role as an international education hub. While integrating into the overall development of the country, we will continue to shine on the global stage."
Note: these are provisional figures
Source: AI-found images
