The "Beijing-Kowloon Through Trains" special stamps were issued by the Hong Kong Post Sunday to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the through train service.

Postmaster General Luk Ping-chuen was joined by the Chairman of Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, Ronnie Yuen, to officiate at the issuing ceremony.

Luk said at the ceremony the relationship between Hong Kong and Chinese mainland has been increasingly close ever since the return of Hong Kong to the motherland in 1997. The prospering social and economic activities in both areas have generated a great demand for railway service between Hong Kong and the mainland. The Beijing-Kowloon Through Train service was launched as a result.

Luk said the set of four stamps, when placed side by side, depict a running train in whole. There are ten pairs of windows on the train, which represent the ten stops along the railroad. The windows are paired up as to symbolize the close ties between Hong Kong and the motherland.

Luk noted that postal administrations over the world work together as if train stations in a mass railway network link and serve people from all walks of life. Both services are essential to the enhancement of worldwide social and commercial exchanges.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2002)