Cover - Macau back to China

Souvenir Sheet on cover. Postmarked December 20, 1999,




1999 - 18 Macao's Return to Motherland - Commemorative Stamps

The two-piece set of stamps with a total face value of 230 fen, was issued by the State Postal Bureau on December 20, 1999 in commemoration of Macao's return to motherland. Two souvenir sheets, one with the same pattern as that of the cover and a face value of 800 fen, and the other a gold-foiled one with a face value of 50 yuan, were issued together with the set. The stamps are respectively entitled "The Sino-Portugese Joint Declaration" and "The Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China." The Souvenir sheet and the gold-foiled souvenir sheet are both entitled "Macao's return to Motherland".

On December 20, 1999, the People's Republic of China resumed the exercise of sovereignity over Macao, marking an end of Macao's long history of separation from the motherland, and washing away the humiliation that the Chinese people had suffered for over four centuries. This was another big event for the Chinese people after Hong Kong's return. Macao will enhoy greater stability and development in the new century under the guidance of the policy of "one country' two systems."

Designer of FDC and cancellation: Zhang Lei