HONG KONG, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Hongkong Post will release a set of special stamps themed on the Year of the Pig on Jan. 12, 2019 and the official First Day Covers of the same theme were put on sale on Friday.

As an integral part of Chinese history and culture, the 12 Chinese zodiac animals convey good wishes and bear symbolic meanings.

To herald the arrival of the Year of the Pig in 2019, Hongkong Post presents the stamps featuring a set of four stamps portraying pigs in different art forms namely, cloth art, wood carving, ceramic and jade, to underscore the theme of the Year of the Pig.

Hongkong Post will also release a series of associated philatelic products, including "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals - Dog/Pig," "Silver Hot Foil Lunar New Year Animal Stamps - Monkey/Rooster/Dog/Pig," and "Silk Stamp Sheetlet with a gold mother pig and piglets pendant against a background of graceful."

The official First Day Covers for the Year of the Pig, the souvenir covers for the gold and silver stamp sheetlet on Chinese New Year animals and that for silver hot foil stamps went on sale on Friday.