A new plastic banknote par valued 10 HK dollars will be issued in 2007 to mark the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the South China Morning Post reported Saturday.

Such unique plastic banknotes would be issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, however, rather than Hong Kong's three note-issuing banks, HSBC, Bank of China (Hong Kong) and the Standard Chartered Bank (HK), the English newspaper reported, citing a source familiar with the study on issuing new notes.

The Monetary Authority has not disclosed any details of the release of the plastic banknotes.

According to the newspaper, the new notes will be printed on polymer material instead of paper and have better security features and are more durable, lasting about four times as long as paper notes.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2006)