On Friday, the agency began issuing the 12th series of stamps for 2003, called "I Ching, Pa Kua," which reflects the Chinese ways of good behavior since ancient times.

The new set includes 8 stamps designed in hexagon and a total of 500,000 sets will be issued. Other postal products such as souvenir sheet, first-day cover and introduction paper will also be available.

And the Postal Services plans to put into circulation a set of commemorative envelopes marking the 3rd anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland on Dec. 20.

Early on January 28, the first set of new stamps for 2002 was issued to mark the Chinese lunar Year of the Horse.

Macao has put into circulation six sets of stamps since 1996 to mark respectively the Chinese lunar years of mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon and snake. Since ancient times, the Chinese have been using 12 varieties of fictitious or real-life animals to symbolize 12 years in a row periodically.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2002)