...Hong Kong, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited - 2018 Series Full Set $20 to $1000

中華人民共和國香港特別行政區
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)

中國銀行(香港)有限公司
Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited* (BoC)

Currency : Dollar (HKD)

In July 2018, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the three note-issuing banks in Hong Kong announced the new series of banknotes. This is the latest series of Bank of China's banknotes, first issued in 2018 ($1000 on 12.12.2018) with all notes dated 1 January 2018. This series was released in stages between 2018 to 2020. The general themes of this series are; -

Front: Bauhinia flower, floral emblem of Hong Kong and Bank of China (HK) Tower
Back: The city’s rich natural and cultural heritage;
$20 – Dim sum and tea culture;
$50 – Hong Kong butterflies;
$100 – Cantonese opera;
$500 – Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark;
$1000 – International financial Center.

This is BoC fourth series of Hong Kong banknotes. The bank's first series was released on 01.05.1994. The other two series were first dated 2003 and 2010.

Bank of China (fourth Series)

$20 – Tea set (143mm x 71.5mm);
$50 – Butterfly with flowers (148mm x 74mm);
$100 – Female Cantonese opera (153mm x 76.5mm);
$500 – Coastline, hexagonal rock formation (158mm x 79mm);
$1000 – two human heads with binary and globe brains (163mm x 81.5mm).

BOCHK’s new series of HK dollars banknotes feature a bauhinia flower, the floral emblem of Hong Kong, and the city’s landmark Bank of China (HK) Tower on the front panels in a brand new pattern. On the back panels are five major design themes: Tea Culture, Ecological Conservation, Cultural Heritage, Natural Scenery and a Smart Metropolis. The new banknotes showcase Hong Kong as a city of East and West, a blend of old and new, and a place enriched by the beauty of nature and humanity.

This is the first time in the history of Hong Kong banknotes that the themes on the reverse side of the three note-issuing banks' notes are the same for each denomination, albeit different designs. Unlike the previous series, there are no description texts printed on the back of the notes.

In a change from the traditional horizontal design, the reverse side of the new banknotes is vertically orientated. In addition, BOCHK has blended traditional design artistry with modern printing technology to create these delicate banknotes in bright colour tones.

It has been reported that the notes are manufactured with a thin transparent protective layer on it which will prolong the lifespan of the note by up to two more years. It is believed that circulation of banknotes issued by the Bank of China represents approximately 25%+ of the total banknotes issued in Hong Kong.

Signature : Gao Yingxin 高应新 (Chief Executive)

Twenty Dollars

Dated 2018, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Tower, Bauhinia flower, tea leaves (Dynamic Shimmering Pattern)

Reverse - tea leave, tea set, dim sum

 

Fifty Dollars

Dated 2018, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Tower, Bauhinia flower, butterfly (Dynamic Shimmering Pattern)

Reverse - butterfly feeding on flower

 

One Hundred Dollars

Dated 2018, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Tower, Bauhinia flower, Yueqin (musical instrument - Dynamic Shimmering Pattern)

Reverse - Cantonese Opera female singer with Chinese fan

 

Five Hundred Dollars

Dated 2018, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Tower, Bauhinia flower, rock columns (Dynamic Shimmering Pattern)

Reverse - Hexagonal Rock Columns

 

One Thousand Dollars

Dated 2018, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Tower, Bauhinia flower (Dynamic Shimmering Pattern)

Reverse - two human heads with binary and globe brains

 

Together with the two other major banks (The HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and Standard Chartered Bank Limited) that issue banknotes in Hong Kong, the new HK$1,000 banknotes was issued on 12.12.2018 while the HK$500 entered into circulation on 23.01.2019. The HK$100 was released on 03.09.2019 and the remaining two notes, HK$50 and HK$20 banknotes were made available on 13.01.2020. The existing series of banknotes remains legal tender in Hong Kong and continues to circulate along with the new series.

These notes were printed by Hong Kong Note Printing Limited (HKNPL - 香港印鈔有限公司). The printing plant is located in Tai Po Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government in 1996 bought the printing plant from De La Rue Group (UK). Since then, the Hong Kong Government holds 55% of the shares in this company. The remaining 45% are owned by China Banknotes Printing and Minting Corporation (15%) and 10% each for the three note-issuing banks in Hong Kong.

Note* 12 September 2001
*