Champ stamps: A special 'Heartwarming Stamp' will be issued October 7 in tribute to Hong Kong's table tennis Olympic silver medallists Li Ching and Ko Lai-chak.

A special 'Heartwarming Stamp' will be issued October 7 in tribute to Hong Kong's table tennis Olympic silver medallists.

Acting Postmaster General Joanna Choi said bringing home Hong Kong's first medal since the Handover is an outstanding accomplishment worthy of special recognition.

The commemorative stamps will be available in a mini-pane of 16 stamps denominated in local postage and photos of the medallists Li Ching and Ko Lai-chak. The limited edition mini-panes are $50 each.

A blank souvenir cover with no stamps will be available for $1 at all Post Offices from September 30. A serviced souvenir cover, with four commemorative stamps affixed, and photos of the medallists imprinted next to each stamp, will be sold at $9.10 each from October 7 at 39 philatelic offices. The stamps will be cancelled with a specially designed postmark.

Only two mini-panes and five serviced souvenir covers can be purchased in a single transaction, and no individual stamps will be for sale.

Special postmark available

On October 7, a hand-back date stamping service will be provided at all post offices for official and privately made covers, bearing an indication of the event and a local address. A special postmark will also be introduced.

The stamp products will be displayed from September 30 in four locations, namely, the General, Tsim Sha Tsui , Tsuen Wan and Sha Tin Central Post Offices.

Local Standing Order Service customers can place advance orders from September 20 to 24. They can also join a lucky draw where 10 winners will receive a pair of table tennis paddles autographed by the medallists.