Name (English): Hong Kong Postal Service/ Hong Kong General Post Office
Name (Chinese): 香港郵政總部
Category: Practical Information
Phone Number: 2921 2222
Address (English): 2 Connaught Pl, Central
Address (Chinese): 香港中環康樂廣場二號
Address Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/xxkNyKG43u1hgrKVA
Address longitude and latitude: 22.28353084738394, 114.15949702359447
Nearest MTR Station: Hong Kong MTR Station
Nearest MTR Station Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/AHxkyMnK3ibzqJJA9
Nearest MTR Station longitude and latitude: 22.284787293019605, 114.15813830875726
How far from the nearest MTR Station: 2-minute walk from Hong Kong Station
Opening hours:
MON 09:30 – 16:30
TUE 09:30 – 16:30
WED 09:30 – 16:30
THU 09:30 – 16:30
FRI 09:30 – 16:30
SAT 09:30 – 13:00
SUN CLOSED
Recommended Time to Visit: Anytime during opening hours
Accessibility Note: Easy access
Reminder: Closed on public holidays. Check the website for all the post offices across Hong Kong
While social media dominates the world of communication nowadays, there is something technology could not give — the warmth from handwritten letters, where we could physically touch something from our friends and family even when we are apart. And there is no doubt sending postcards is still very much on-trend when we travel. Here’s a brief guide on how to post internationally from Hong Kong and bits of the local postal history.
Speaking of posting a letter or a postcard, stamps are surely essential for paying the postage. Aside from purchasing stamps from the post office, 4 types of definitive stamp booklets of $2, $2.6, $3.7, and $4.9 stamps (each containing 10 stamps) are also available in particular convenient stores, including Circle K and 7-11, and Shell oil stations. You may also print postage labels outside post offices where you could get self-adhesive postage labels of 10 pre-set denominations. In terms of philately, the Hong Kong Post (HK Post) also releases around 10 sets of special stamps annually and you may purchase them in person in the post offices or online through the Shopthru Post website. And you may stick them onto your postcards to make them even prettier and more Hong Kong!
After knowing where to get the stamps, it’s time to opt for a particular kind of mail service to post the postcard. HK Post offers both surface and airmail services*, and it’s important to note the difference between postage amongst the 4 regions HK Post differentiated across the globe. It all goes by the same principle– the speedier and the farther your mail delivers, the pricier the postage would be! However, if you couldn’t be bothered with all the calculations and reading webpages, just pop a $5.0 stamp on your 20g postcard/ letter and it is ready to fly to almost everywhere on Earth! Tracking service is also available and would cost $15.5 per mail item, though registered mail items could only be posted on post office counters.
What’s more is where to post your mail. Besides post offices, post boxes are also available almost everywhere on the streets and in particular MTR stations. Upon the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China in 1997, the local government has changed most of the colonial post boxes with the crown of British monarchs on the streets (like those on the streets of England) to the rectangular post boxes we often see. Yet, you may occasionally find some colonial post boxes painted in green here and there, which are still in use despite their “old” appearance. Still make sure you’ll take a picture beside them as you are lucky enough to find them!
Happy mailing!
*When posting via airmail, you shall stick a blue “BY AIR MAIL” label (which is available in each post office) or write clearly and in bold “BY AIR MAIL” beside the receiver’s address on your mail item.
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