...Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - $10 Polymer issue Dated 1st January 2024

 中華人民共和國香港特別行政區

(Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China)

 

香港金融管理局

(Hong Kong Monetary Authority - HKMA)

Currency - Dollar (HKD)

 

This is the latest Hong Kong $10 polymer note issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government. This note is dated 1st January 2024 and was only reported among collectors last year. This is still the only banknote issued in Hong Kong that is printed on polymer substrate material.

The last issue for this $10 polymer note was dated 01.07.2018. Neither of the three issuing banknote commercial banks have printed the $10 denomination since 1995. When the Bank of China first issued Hong Kong banknotes in 1994, the lowest denomination was the $20. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) last print for the $10 was dated 01.01.1992, and the Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) $10 was dated 01.01.1995. Obviously the government feels that there is still a need for this low denomination value note and the government has been issuing this $10 since 2002. This is also due to public demand as the people of Hong Kong find it impractical to have a $10 coin instead of a banknote, especially during festivity seasons when auspicious red packets are required, like new year and weddings and so on.

The designs for this note have not changed since it was first introduced in 2002 except that the material was changed from paper to polymer substrate material in 2005. Honestly, I have no idea how you can describe the design for this note. It looked like mostly ribbon wiggling on the front and back. On the front, the design on those triangle shapes may appear to be representing water waves. In the top center is a hexagon shaped perfect register with the image of a rearing horse. Next to this is printed with the issuing authority - Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Both Chinese and English text are printed on the front and back of this note. I personally believe that it would be much better if they promote the beauty of Hong Kong with the skyline view of the city, which Hong Kong is famous for, to the outside world.

This is a cheap note and it is fun to collect them. 

 

Ten Dollars 

Dated 1st January 2024

Signatures 

Financial Secretary - Paul Chan Mo-po* 陳茂波 (tenure since 2017)

Monetary Authority (Chief Executive) - Eddie Yue Wai-man* 余偉文 (tenure since 2019)

Sizes - 133mm x 66mm 

Note* - It appears that they both have more than one signature (in Chinese as shown on this banknote, and in English as well).

...Hong Kong, HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation - $100 2022 Reprint

 中華人民共和國香港特別行政區

(Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China)

 

香港上海滙豐銀行有限公司

(The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - HSBC)

Currency - Dollar (HKD)

 

I believe this is the only note issued with the date of 01.01.2022. The reprints for the other denominations - $20, $50, $500 and $1000 were issued in 2010. The $100 note was not included in the 2020 reprints. The design for this note is the same as the 2018 serials but with two new signatures, and instead of the signature of the Chief Executive, this note is signed by the Co-Chief Executives.

One Hundred Dollars

Lion Head - Stitt

The design on the front for this note is the same as the note first issued in 2018. The nickname for this lion is called Stitt. The lion sculptures (Stitt and Stephen) have been a distinctive landmark in their own right in Hong Kong, Shanghai and London offices as well. The nicknames were named after two former employees of the bank. To the local in Hong Kong, HSBC is also sometime referred to as the Lion Bank 獅子銀行, because of the two lion sculptures. The silhouette of the bank's head office building is printed to the left of the Lion's head.

 

On the top right hand corner, this note is printed with a dynamic shimmering pattern (Chinese musical instrument - ruan) in green and when the note is tilted, a ring appearing in a lighter green colour moves around as well. A Windowed Metallic Thread is also incorporated on the note, and when the note is tilted, the large and small rings on the metallic thread move correspondingly.

 

Out of the three commercial banks in Hong Kong, HSBC has the highest banknotes circulating in the territory, representing around 56% of the total banknotes in Hong Kong.

 

Signatures - Co-Chief Executives

David Liao (07.06.2021-)

Surendranath Ravi Rosha (07.06.2021-)

 Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 100

Dimensions - 153.5mm x 77mm

 

Back - a couple performing Cantonese Opera and in the background is the image of a Chinese pavilion and a garden bridge.

 

Cantonese Opera actors

...Hong Kong, Bank of China - 2021 Reprints Of $20, $50 And $100

 中華人民共和國香港特別行政區

(Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China)

中國銀行(香港)有限公司

(Bank of China [Hong Kong] Limited)

Currency - Dollar (HKD) 

 

Here are the three reprints notes of $20, $50 and $100 all dated 01.01.2021. It is believed that these are the only three notes issued in the year 2021. The two notes of $500 and $1000 were issued in 2020. The designs for all these three notes are the same as the first 2018 series, but with new dates and new signatures.

 

Signature - Sun Yu 孫煜 (Chief Executive since 23.12.2020)

The designs on the front for both the notes are the same as the 2018 series, featuring the Bank Of China (Hong Kong branch) head office tower located at 1 Garden Road Central Hong Kong. Like all the 2018 first series, the theme for the notes on the front are the same. Next to the Bank of China tower is the bauhinia flower. On the top right hand corner, each note is printed with a dynamic shimmering pattern in green and when the note is tilted, a ring appearing in a lighter green colour moves around as well. The dynamic shimmering patterns on the notes are - $20 (two leaves), $50 (butterfly), $100 (musical instrument - ruan). A Windowed Metallic Thread is also incorporated on the note, and when the note is tilted, the large and small rings on the metallic thread move correspondingly.

 

The theme on the back of each note for all three commercial banks are the same, albeit the designs are not the same.

 

Twenty Dollars

Bank of China Tower

Back - A Chinese teapot with two cups. In the background are two bamboo steamers (zhenglong) with har gao and siew mai. Four shapes of tea leaves are also printed in the background.

 

Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 20

Dimensions - 144.5mm x 72mm

 

A Chinese teapot with two cups

 

Fifty Dollars

Bank of China Tower

Back - A butterfly feeding on flowers.

Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 50 

Dimensions - 149mm x 75mm

 

Butterfly

 

One Hundred Dollars

Bank of China Tower

Back - A female Cantonese Opera performer with a Chinese folding a fan, and in the background is the image of the Xiqu Centre building.

Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 100

Dimensions -154mm x 77mm

 

A female Cantonese Opera performer

 

...Hong Kong, Stardard Chartered Bank - 2020 Reprints Full Set of Five Notes

中華人民共和國香港特別行政區

(Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China)

 

渣打銀行(香港)有限公司

(Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited)

Currency - Dollar (HKD) 

 

Below is a full set of five banknotes all printed with the dates of 01.01.2020. These are the first reprints of the 2018 series, and based on my understanding, these are the only reprints in full set since 2018. The designs are the same as the 2018 series, but with new dates and new signatures.

Twenty Dollars

Standard Chartered Bank Head Office

Front - The designs on the front for all the notes are almost the same with the bank's main headquarter office in Hong Kong (Des Voeux, Central). On the top right hand corner, each note is printed with a dynamic shimmering pattern in green and when the note is tilted, a ring appearing in a lighter green colour moves around as well. The dynamic shimmering patterns on the notes are - $20 (two leaves), $50 (butterfly), $100 (musical instrument - ruan), $500 (three pentagon objects) and $1000 (flower). A Windowed Metallic Thread is also incorporated on the note, and when the note is tilted, the large and small rings on the metallic thread move correspondingly.

 

Out of the three commercial banks in Hong Kong, only Standard Chartered Bank has issued a full set with the same dates since 2018. Standard Chartered Bank's banknotes only represent around 10.1% of the total banknotes circulating in Hong Kong, much lower than those issued by The HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and Bank of China. In view of low circulation, it is not sure if the quantity printed is the same as the two other banks. If this is the case, one would assume that collector values on the Standard Chartered Bank notes would appreciate much faster than the HongKong and Shanghai Bank and the Bank of China. So far, I do not see this happening. Perhaps, they are just the same among of SCB's banknotes in dealers/collectors' hands as those of HSBC and BoC too.

The theme on the back of each note for all three banks are the same, albeit the designs are not the same.

 

 Back - A smiling waiter filling up a tea pot with hot water with a family of three enjoying the yum cha. Chinese lanterns as decorating objects hanging in the restaurant.

 

Signatures

Chief Financial Officer - Hau Tee Mann (since April 2017)

Chief Executive - Huen Wai Yi Mary (since March 2017)

Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 20

Dimensions - 144.5mm x 72mm 

 

Family having yum cha

  

Fifty Dollars 

Standard Chartered Bank Head Office

 

Back - A butterfly feeding on a flower. To the right is a caterpillar (larva), and underneath is a chrysalis (pupa). This is basically featuring a life cycle of a butterfly. The only thing that is missing, I believe, is the egg.

Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 50 

Dimensions - 149.5mm x 74.5mm

 

Butterfly

 

One Hundred Dollars

Standard Chartered Bank Head Office

Back - a couple performing Cantonese Opera and in the background is the image of the Xiqu Centre building.

Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 100

Dimensions - 154mm x 77mm

Cantonese Opera actors

Five Hundred Dollars

Standard Chartered Bank Head Office

Back - Image of the Hexagonal Rock Formation situated in Sai Kung, which is an UNESCO Global Geopark since 2009.

Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 500

Dimensions - 159mm x 79.5mm

 

Hexagonal Rock Formation

 

One Thousand Dollars

Standard Chartered Bank Head Office

Back - Hong Kong skyline designed mainly with binary numbers - 0's and 1's. The image is showing the financial center which is situated on Hong Kong Island. A ferry is crossing the Victoria Harbour. 

Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 1000

Dimensions - 164.5mm x 82.5mm

 

Hong Kong skyline in binary numbers

 

...Hong Kong, HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation - 2020 Reprints Full Set

中華人民共和國香港特別行政區
(Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China)

 

香港上海滙豐銀行有限公司

(The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited - HSBC)

Currency - Dollar (HKD)

Below are four banknotes all printed with the dates of 01.01.2020. These are the first reprints of the 2018 series. The four notes are $20, $50, $500 and $1000. The $100 note was not issued for this given year. The designs are the same as the 2018 series, but with new dates. 

 

The designs on the front for all the notes are almost the same with the image of the Lion head sculpture, albeit facing different directors printed on each note. The nickname for this lion is called Stitt. The lion sculptures (Stitt and Stephen) have been a distinctive landmark in their own right in Hong Kong, Shanghai and London offices as well. The nicknames were named after two former employees of the bank. To the local in Hong Kong, HSBC is also sometime referred to as the Lion Bank 獅子銀行, because of the two lion sculptures. The silhouette of the bank's head office building is printed to the left of the Lion's head.

On the top right hand corner, each note is printed with a dynamic shimmering pattern in green and when the note is tilted, a ring appearing in a lighter green colour moves around as well. The dynamic shimmering patterns on the notes are - $20 (two leaves), $50 (butterfly), $500 (three pentagon objects) and $1000 (flower). A Windowed is also incorporated on the note, and when the note is tilted, the large and small rings on the metallic thread move correspondingly. 

 

Out of the three commercial banks in Hong Kong, HSBC has the highest banknotes circulating in the territory, representing around 56% of the total banknotes in Hong Kong. 

 

The theme on the back of each note for all three banks are the same, albeit the designs are not the same. 

 

Signature

Peter Wong Tung-Shun 王冬勝 (Chief Executive).

 

Twenty Dollars

Lion Head - Stitt

Back - A family of five enjoying their yum cha at a restaurant.

 

Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 20

Dimensions - 143mm x 71mm

 

Family enjoying Yum-Cha

Fifty Dollars

Lion Head - Stitt

Back - A butterfly flying over some hibiscus followers

Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 50 

Dimensions - 149.5mm x 74.5mm

 

Butterfly

 

One Hundred Dollars - Not issued.

 

Five Hundred Dollars

Lion Head - Stitt

Back - Image of the Hexagonal Rock Columns believed to be situated in Sai Kung, which is an UNESCO Global Geopark since 2009. Two hikers admiring the view of the Hexagonal Rock Columns.

Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 500

Dimensions - 159mm x 79.5mm

 

Hexagonal Rock Formation

 

One Thousand Dollars

Lion Head - Stitt

 

Back - A bird-eye view of the Hong Kong skyline of the financial center which is situated on Hong Kong Island. In the background, is the view of Kowloon main business district.

Watermark - Bauhinia flower and electrotype 1000

Dimensions - 164mm x 82.5mm

 

Hong Kong skyline of the financial center