The handover will see a change of names that suggest royal patronage. The 'Royal' will go from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (which has a new logo from tomorrow), the Royal Observatory, the Royal Hong Kong Police and the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club. One exception though could be the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club whose members have voted to keep the word. Certain to be removed is the tiny royal crown painted on post boxes across the territory. Replacing it will be the neutral Post Office logo, although no date has yet been set for when the 'facelift' will take place. Because of their historical value, Postmaster-general Robert Footman wants to keep some of the antique, cast-iron pillar boxes engraved with King George V and Queen Victoria insignia, putting them in a local museum or on show somewhere else. A batch of 10 pillar boxes will be sold off this summer. Stamps bearing the Queen's portrait will also be replaced by new Hong Kong versions. A new series of postal franks and stamps made up of a set of 16 denominations from 10 cents to $50 will be released early next year. When put together, the stamps portray a continuous stretch of Hong Kong waterfront. And, if you have any stamps left with the Queen's profile on them, you can change them for new ones.
