Hongkong Post
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the Japanese-language newspaper, see Hong Kong Post.
| Hongkong Post | |||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese: | 香港郵政 | ||||||||||
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| Hongkong Post | |
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| Type | Trading Fund |
| Founded | 1841 |
| Founder | Royal Mail |
| Headquarters | General Post Office, Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong |
| Key people | Tam Wing-pong, Postmaster General and General Manager of the Post Office Trading Fund |
| Industry | Postal service |
| Owner | Hong Kong Government |
| Website | http://www.hongkongpost.com |
Hongkong Post (Chinese: 香港郵政) is a department under the Hong Kong government, though operated as a Trading Fund. Founded in 1841, it was known as Postal Department or Post Office (Chinese: 郵政署) before the handover of Hong Kong in 1997. It is sub-member of the Universal Postal Union since 1877, and is a separate entity from China Post .
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[edit] History
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| Economy of Hong Kong |
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Identity |
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Resources |
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Geography - History - Politics Hong Kong Portal |
Merchants traded in Hong Kong at the two sides of Victoria Harbour as early as before the British possession in 1842. They complained about the absence of proper postal services and therefore the Postal Department was established.
The department was founded on August 28, 1841 but the first post office (a.k.a. 書信館 at that time), situated near the recent site of St.John's Cathedral, opened later on November 12. At the beginning its right to operation belonged to the Royal Mail until its transfer to the Postmaster General on May 1, 1860.
On December 8, 1862, the Office issued the first set of Hong Kong postal stamps. Before that, only British soldiers in Hong Kong could use British stamps while other local residents did not have any. Until the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, BFPO 1 was the address for British forces serving in the then colony. When sending mail from the UK to a member of HM Forces serving overseas, the sender must address it to the appropriate BFPO number, and not to the country in which that person is based. BFPO1 addressed mail was charged at the inland UK rate.
In 1989, the Office introduced automated mail sorting and machines installed in the General Post Office.[1] Unlike mainland China, there is no post code system in Hong Kong, although one has been under consideration since 2000.[2]
Since August 1995, the Office operates as a Trading Fund. Full title of the head of the Office becomes Postmaster General and General Manager of the Post Office Trading Fund (traditional Chinese: 香港郵政署長兼郵政署營運基金總經理).
Before 1997, the post boxes were painted red as in the United Kingdom, and was engraved with a British royal coat of arms. After the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, the livery of the drop-off boxes has become green, with the new Hongkong Post logo.
[edit] Postal history
During the colonial era, Hong Kong produced postage stamps simply bearing the name Hong Kong, with the likenesses (in profile) of the reigning monarchs of the United Kingdom, or with the royal symbols, for example, "EIIR" (short form for "Elizabeth II Regina" ) to represent Queen Elizabeth II. Since the Hong Kong's transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997, stamps issued bear the name Hong Kong, China.
British Hong Kong postage stamps are no longer valid for prepayment of postage or repurchased by the Post Office.
[edit] Post Offices
Post offices of the Hongkong Post are scattered throughout Hong Kong. Until 2007, there are 34 of them on Hong Kong Island, 42 at Kowloon, 45 in the New Territories and 8 on the Outlying Islands. There are two mobile post offices providing postal services in remote areas in the New Territories.
[edit] Post offices on Hong Kong Island
| Name | Year of establishment |
Image | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen # (香港仔郵政局) |
1986 | -- | Aberdeen Main Road, Aberdeen |
| Ap Lei Chau (鴨脷洲郵政局) |
1980 | -- | Ap Lei Chau Estate |
| Causeway Bay # (銅鑼灣郵政局) |
Temporarily closed due to expiry of the lease of premises | ||
| Chai Wan (柴灣郵政局) |
1978 | -- | Yue Wan Estate, Chai Wan Road, Chai Wan |
| Cloud View Road (雲景道郵政局) |
1983 | -- | Cloud View Road, Hong Kong |
| Cyberport # (數碼港郵政局) |
2003 |  |
Cyberport Road, Aberdeen |
| General Post Office # (郵政總局) |
1976 |  |
Connaught Place, Central |
| Gloucester Road (告士打道郵政局) |
1992 | -- | Gloucester Road, Wan Chai |
| Happy Valley (跑馬地郵政局) |
1990 |  |
Sing Woo Road, Happy Valley |
| Heng Fa Chuen (杏花邨郵政局) |
1989 | -- | Heng Fa Chuen |
| Hennessy Road # (軒尼詩道郵政局) |
1969 |  |
Hennessy Road, Wan Chai |
| Hing Fat Street (興發街郵政局) |
1983 |  |
Causeway Bay Kaifong Welfare Association Building, Hing Fat Street |
| Hing Man Street (興民街郵政局) |
1995 | -- | Wing Hing Court, Hing Man Street, Sai Wan Ho |
| Kennedy Town (堅尼地城郵政局) |
2006 |  |
Kennedy Town Community Complex, Rock Hill Street, Kennedy Town |
| King's Road # (英皇道郵政局) |
2005 | -- | Olympia Plaza, King's Road, North Point |
| Lei Tung (利東郵政局) |
1990 | -- | Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau |
| Morrison Hill (摩理臣山郵政局) |
1980 |  |
Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai |
| Peak # (山頂郵政局) |
1995 | -- | The Peak Tower, Peak Road, the Peak |
| Perkins Road (白建時道郵政局) |
1975 | -- | Perkins Road, Jardine's Lookout |
| Pok Fu Lam (薄扶林郵政局) |
1993 | -- | Fu Wing Yuen, Chi Fu Fa Yuen, Pok Fu Lam |
| Queen's Road (皇后大道郵政局) |
2004 |  |
The Center, Queen's Road Central, Central |
| Repulse Bay (淺水灣郵政局) |
1966 | -- | South Bay Road, Repulse Bay |
| Sai Ying Pun (西營盤郵政局) |
1967 | -- | 27 Pok Fu Lam Road |
| Shau Kei Wan # (筲箕灣郵政局) |
1988 | -- | Perfect Mount Gardens, Po Man Street, Shau Kei Wan |
| Sheung Wan # (上環郵政局) |
1991 | -- | Hong Kong Telecom CSL Tower, 322-324 Des Voeux Road Central |
| Siu Sai Wan (小西灣郵政局) |
1995 | -- | Siu Sai Wan Estate, Chai Wan |
| Stanley (赤柱郵政局) |
1937 (the oldest post office in service, Hong Kong) |
 |
Wong Ma Kok Road, Stanley |
| Tai Koo Shing # (太古城郵政局) |
1994 | -- | Kam Sing Mansion, Tai Fung Avenue, Taikoo Shing |
| Tsat Tsz Mui (七姊妹郵政局) |
1989 | -- | Model Housing Estate, King's Road, North Point |
| Wah Fu (華富郵政局) |
1968 |  |
Wah Chun House, Wah Fu Estate |
| Wan Chai # (灣仔郵政局) |
1992 |  |
Wu Chung House, Queen's Road East |
| Wyndham Street (雲咸街郵政局) |
1984 |  |
Hoseinee House, Wyndham Street |
[edit] Post offices at Kowloon
| Name | Year of establishment |
Image | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheung Sha Wan # (長沙灣郵政局) |
1966 | Cheung Sha Wan Road, Cheung Sha Wan | |
| Choi Hung Chuen (彩虹邨郵政局) |
1963 |  |
Choi Hung Estate |
| Choi Ming (彩明郵政局) |
2004 | Choi Ming Court, Tseung Kwan O | |
| Chuk Yuen (竹園郵政局) |
1988 | Chuk Yuen (South) Estate | |
| Fu Shan (富山郵政局) |
1979 |  |
Fu Shan Estate |
| Gillies Avenue # (機利士路郵政局) |
1963 |  |
Gillies Avenue North, Hung Hom |
| Granville Road # (加連威老道郵政局) |
1983 |  |
Albion Plaza, Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui |
| Ho Man Tin (何文田郵政局) |
2002 | Homantin Estate, Homantin | |
| Hung Hom Bay # (紅磡灣郵政局) |
1989 |  |
Cherry Mansion, Whampoa Garden, Hung Hom |
| International Mail Centre (國際郵件中心郵政局) |
1982 |  |
International Mail Centre, Salisbury Road, Hung Hom |
| Kowloon Bay (九龍灣郵政局) |
2008 | Enterprise Square, Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay | |
| Kowloon Central # (九龍中央郵政局) |
1967 |  |
Kowloon Government Offices, Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei |
| Kowloon City # (九龍城郵政局) |
1959 | Lung Kong Road, Kowloon City | |
| Kowloon East (東九龍郵政局) |
1985 | Kowloon East Government Offices Building, Lei Yue Mun Road, Kwun Tong | |
| Kwong Wa Street # (廣華街郵政局) |
1988 |  |
Kwong Fai Mansion, Kwong Wa Street, Mong Kok |
| Kwun Tong # (觀塘郵政局) |
1962 | Kwun Tong District Branch Offices Building, Tung Yan Street, Kwun Tong | |
| Lai Kok (麗閣郵政局) |
1982 | Lai Kok Estate, Cheung Sha Wan | |
| Lam Tin (藍田郵政局) |
2001 | Kai Tin Estate, Lam Tin | |
| Lei Cheng Uk (李鄭屋郵政局) |
1986 | Lei Cheng Uk, Cheung Sha Wan | |
| Lok Fu (樂富郵政局) |
1986 |  |
Lok Fu |
| Lok Wah (樂華郵政局) |
1989 | Lok Wah North Estate | |
| Mei Foo Sun Chuen (美孚新邨郵政局) |
2005 |  |
West Rail Line Mei Foo Station |
| Mong Kok # (旺角郵政局) |
1993 | Mongkok Exchange, Bute Street, Mong Kok | |
| Ngau Chi Wan (牛池灣郵政局) |
1981 | Choi Wan Estate, Ngau Chi Wan | |
| Ngau Tau Kok (牛頭角郵政局) |
1986 | Ngau Tau Kok | |
| Oi Man (愛民郵政局) |
1980 | Oi Man Estate, Homantin | |
| Po Lam (寶琳郵政局) |
1990 | Po Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O | |
| San Po Kong (新蒲崗郵政局) |
2006 |  |
Yue Xiu Plaza, Ning Yuen Street, San Po Kong |
| Sau Mau Ping (秀茂坪郵政局) |
2003 | Sau Mau Ping Estate, Sau Ming Road | |
| Sham Shui Po # (深水埗郵政局) |
1986 | Un Chau Street, Sham Shui Po | |
| Shek Kip Mei (石硤尾郵政局) |
2006 | Shek Kip Mei Estate, Shek Kip Mei | |
| Sheung Tak (尚德郵政局) |
1999 | Sheung Tak Estate, Tseung Kwan O | |
| Shun Lee (順利郵政局) |
1981 | Shun Lee Estate | |
| Tai Kok Tsui (大角咀郵政局) |
1989 | Anchor Street, Tai Kok Tsui | |
| To Kwa Wan # (土瓜灣郵政局) |
1994 | Hang Chien Court, Wyler Garden, Mei King Street, To Kwa Wan | |
| Tseung Kwan O # (將軍澳郵政局) |
1994 | Hau Tak Estate, Tseung Kwan O | |
| Tsim Sha Tsui # (尖沙咀郵政局) |
1983 |  |
Hermes House, Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui |
| Tsz Wan Shan (慈雲山郵政局) |
1998 |  |
Yuk Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan |
| Wong Tai Sin (黃大仙郵政局) |
1987 | Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate | |
| Yau Tong (油塘郵政局) |
2003 | Yau Tong Estate | |
| Yau Yat Tsuen (又一村郵政局) |
1967 |  |
Fa Po Street, Yau Yat Tsuen, Kowloon Tong |
[edit] Post offices in the New Territories
| Name | Year of establishment |
Image | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfly # (蝴蝶郵政局) |
1985 | -- | Butterfly Estate, Tuen Mun |
| Cheung Fat # (長發郵政局) |
1990 |  |
Cheung Fat Estate, Tsing Yi |
| City One Shatin # (沙田第一城郵政局) Yuen Chau Kok, prior to 2005 |
1988 |  |
City One Plaza, Sha Tin |
| Fairview Park (錦繡花園郵政局) |
1984 | -- | Fairview Park, San Tin |
| Fanling (粉嶺郵政局) |
1990 | -- | North District Government Offices Building, Fanling |
| Fo Tan (火炭郵政局) |
1991 | -- | Shan Mei Street, Fo Tan, Sha Tin |
| Fu Shin (富善郵政局) |
1988 | -- | Fu Shin Estate, Tai Po |
| Fu Tai (富泰郵政局) |
2001 | -- | Fu Tai Estate, Tuen Mun |
| Heng On (恒安郵政局) |
1990 | -- | Heng On Estate, Ma On Shan, Sha Tin |
| Hin Keng # (顯徑郵政局) |
1989 | -- | Hin Keng Estate, Sha Tin |
| Kam Tai (錦泰郵政局) |
2004 |  |
Kam Tai Court, Ma On Shan, Sha Tin |
| Kam Tin (錦田郵政局) |
1965 |  |
Kam Tin Government Offices Building, Kam Tin |
| Kwai Chung (葵涌郵政局) |
1998 | -- | Kwai Chung Estate, Kwai Chung |
| Kwai Fong (葵芳郵政局) |
1993 | -- | Kwai Fong Estate, Kwai Fong |
| Kwai Shing (葵盛郵政局) |
1980 | -- | Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Shing |
| Kwong Yuen (廣源郵政局) |
1992 | -- | Kwong Yuen Estate, Sha Tin |
| Lai King (荔景郵政局) |
1976 |  |
Lai King Estate, Kwai Chung |
| Lee On (利安郵政局) |
1993 | -- | Lee On Estate, Ma On Shan |
| Lei Muk Shue (梨木樹郵政局) |
2000 | -- | Lei Muk Shue Estate |
| Leung King (良景郵政局) |
1990 |  |
Leung King Estate, Tuen Mun |
| Ma On Shan # (馬鞍山郵政局) |
1997 | -- | Sunshine City Phase 4, On Luk Street, Ma On Shan, Sha Tin |
| Mei Lam (美林郵政局) |
1982 | -- | Mei Lam Estate, Sha Tin |
| On Ting (安定郵政局) |
1994 |  |
On Ting Estate, Tuen Mun |
| Sai Kung # (西貢郵政局) |
1984 |  |
Sai Kung Government Offices Building, Chan Man Street, Sai Kung |
| San Tin (新田郵政局) |
1964 | -- | Castle Peak Road, San Tin Section |
| Sha Kok (沙角郵政局) |
1982 | -- | Sha Kok Estate, Sha Tin |
| Sha Tau Kok (沙頭角郵政局) |
1962 | -- | Sha Tau Kok Government Offices Building, Sha Tau Kok Road, Sha Tau Kok |
| Sha Tin Central # (沙田中央郵政局) |
2002 | -- | Shatin Govevnment Offices, Sha Tin |
| Shek Lei (石籬郵政局) |
1999 | -- | Shek Lei, Kwai Chung |
| Shek Wai Kok (石圍角郵政局) |
1983 | -- | Shek Wai Kok Estate, Tsuen Wan |
| Shek Wu Hui # (石湖墟郵政局) |
1959 | -- | San Fung Avenue, Shek Wu Hui, Sheung Shui |
| Sun Chui (新翠郵政局) |
1984 | -- | Sun Chui Estate, Sha Tin |
| Tai Hing (大興郵政局) |
1981 |  |
Tai Hing Estate, Tuen Mun |
| Tai Po # (大埔郵政局) |
1979 | -- | Tai Po Government Office Building, Tai Po |
| Tin Yiu (天耀郵政局) |
1992 | -- | Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai |
| Tin Yuet (天悅郵政局) |
2002 | -- | Tin Yuet Estate, Tin Shui Wai |
| Tsing Yi (青衣郵政局) |
1982 |  |
Cheung Hong Estate, Tsing Yi |
| Tsuen Wan # (荃灣郵政局) |
1992 | -- | Tsuen Wan Government Offices Building, Sai Lau Kok Road, Tsuen Wan |
| Tsuen Wan West (荃灣西郵政局) |
1992 | -- | Bayview Garden, Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan |
| Tuen Mun Central # (屯門中央郵政局) |
1989 | -- | Library and Post Office Building, Tuen Mun |
| Wah Ming (華明郵政局) |
1991 | -- | Wah Ming Estate, Fanling |
| Wan Tau Tong (運頭塘郵政局) |
1992 | -- | Wan Tau Tong Estate, Tai Po |
| Wo Che (禾輋郵政局) |
1988 | -- | Tak Hau Street, Wo Che Estate, Sha Tin |
| Yeung Uk Road (楊屋道郵政局) |
2008 | -- | Indihome, Yeung Uk Road, Tsuen Wan |
| Yuen Long # (元朗郵政局) |
2002 |  |
Yuen Long Pau Cheung Square, Yuen Long Town |
[edit] Post offices on the Outlying Islands
| Name | Year of establishment |
Image | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport # (機場郵政局) |
1998 |  |
Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport |
| Cheung Chau # (長洲郵政局) |
1991 | -- | Regional Council Cheung Chau Complex, Cheung Chau |
| Discovery Bay (愉景灣郵政局) |
1998 | -- | Discovery Bay Plaza, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island |
| Lamma (南丫郵政局) |
1984 |  |
Main Street, Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island |
| Mui Wo (梅窩郵政局) |
1990 | -- | Mui Wo Government Offices Building, Mui Wo, Lantau Island |
| Peng Chau (坪洲郵政局) |
1961 |  |
Government Building, Peng Chau |
| Tai O (大澳郵政局) |
1962 | Tai O Government Building, Tai O, Lantau Island | |
| Tung Chung (東涌郵政局) |
2000 |  |
Mei Tung Street, Tung Chung, Lantau Island |
Notes
# - Philatelic office
[edit] Mobile post offices
- Mobile Post Office No.1 serves New Territories areas without post offices nearby. Areas served include Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Sheung Shui, Fanling, Tai Po, Shatin and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
- Mobile Post Office No.2 also serves the remote areas, namely Clear Water Bay, Sai Kung, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Shatin and Tai Po.
[edit] Past post offices
Post offices listed below do not exist anymore.
| Name | Year of establishment |
Image | Location | Recent situation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton Road (廣東道郵政局) |
1971 |  |
Canton Road, Jordan | Closed from January 1, 2008 due to low utilisation and heavy operational losses |
| Old Wan Chai Post Office (舊灣仔郵政局) |
1915 |  |
221 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai | Listed as a declared monument on 18 May 1990; acts as one of the Environmental Resource Centres of the EPD |
| Garden Road # (花園道郵政局) |
2002 | -- | Cheung Kong Centre, Queen's Road Central | Closed from 2007-11-01 due to low utilisation and heavy operational losses |
| Harbour Building (海港政府大樓郵政局) |
1985 |  |
Harbour Building, Pier Road, Central | Closed from 2007-11-01 due to low utilisation and heavy operational losses |
| North Point (北角郵政局) |
2002 | -- | FitFort, King's Road, North Point | Closed from May 18, 2008 due to operational losses |
| Texacao Road (德士古道郵政局) |
1993 | -- | Wealthy Garden, Texaco Road, Tsuen Wan | Closed from April 20, 2008 as it is undesirable to continue operation in the severely deteriorated premises; replaced by Yeung Uk Road Post Office, which is a 10-minute walk apart. |
| Wong Chuk Hang (黃竹坑郵政局) |
1975 | -- | Wong Chuk Hang Estate | Closed from 2007-09-30 due to the demolition of the estate |
[edit] Other postal buildings
| Name | Year of establishment |
Image | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Mail Centre (空郵中心) |
1998 |  |
Catering Road West, Hong Kong International Airport |
| International Mail Centre (國際郵件中心) |
1980 |  |
Salisbury Road, Hung Hom |
[edit] Services
[edit] Post
In addition to making its income from traditional postal delivery, it also sells philatelic products, and other sales, and is used by the Government and utilities to accept payment.
[edit] Philately
Hongkong Post Stamps was a division set up in 1974 charged with promoting and popularising stamp collecting, and to meet the ever increasing demand for Hong Kong stamps by collectors. Today, there are three main areas of work:
- stamp product design and production,
- fulfillment and advance ordering service and
- philatelic marketing.
Owing to its conservative stamp-issuing policy, stamp collecting in Hong Kong is popular hobby. Different types of attractively designed stamp products are popular with stamp collectors around the world.
[edit] Other
Hongkong Post also provides services listed below:
- Local Courier Post
- Speedpost
- Periodicals/Circular/Direct Mail services
- e-Post
- e-Cert (Electronic Certificate for e-commerce)
- e-Business
- Franking machine
- Postal remittance service (to Canada, Mainland China, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal and the Philippines)
- Electronic remittance service (through Western Union)
- PayThruPost (Bill payment)
- Logistics, etc.
[edit] Gallery
 A large letter box found at Tsim Sha Tsui |
 An ordinary stamp vending machine located at a post office |
 A postage label vending machine located at Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office. Postage labels are instantly-printed stamps with customizable or pre-set postage fees. |
[edit] Incidents
- In 2005, newspapers revealed that there were pinhole cameras installed in Cheung Sha Wan Post Office thus violating people's privacy. Hongkong Post explained that such installation was necessary for facilitating police investigation about several suspected theft cases.
- In March 2007, two postmen lost three bags of mails heading to Wan Chai and the Eastern District in the management offices of certain buildings. Though Hongkong Post eventually found one of the lost bags, it is estimated that about 400 letters were lost. The offices where the mails disappeared are not in the list of official keeping places of mailbags. Therefore, Hongkong Post put the two postmen into disciplinary actions for their ignorance. However, some in the postmen's union said there was little chance for ignorance and it might be a robbery.
[edit] Achievements
- Hongkong Post won the "Hong Kong Awards for Industries - Productivity and Quality Award" in 2005 for its achievement in productivity enhancement and total quality management[4]
- It was awarded the Caring Organisation Logo 2005/06 by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service
- It won the Gold Level Certification in the Universal Postal Union EMS Cooperative Audit and Measurement Programme 2005
- It won the Web Care Award 2005 - Gold Prize from Internet Professional Association
- It sets the new Guinness World Record for the largest stamp mosaic.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Postal Automation (Hong Kong). NEC. Retrieved on 2007-05-23.
- ^ Postal coding system in Hong Kong. NEC. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
- ^ Chiang, Allan (2006). 香港郵政 卓越唯心 － 建立企業文化的體驗 (Hongkong Post: Heart for Excellence). Government Logistics Department, page 24. ISBN 9789889895600.
- ^ Hongkong Post Wins the 2005 Hong Kong Awards for Industries - Productivity and Quality Award.
- ^ Promoting A Strong Brand Identity.
- Stanley Gibbons Ltd: various catalogues
- Encyclopaedia of Postal History
- Stuart Rossiter & John Flower: The Stamp Atlas
- Webb, F. W. (1961) The Philatelic and Postal History of Hong Kong and the Treaty Ports of China and Japan, The Royal Philatelic Society London
