...Hong Kong Bank of China - $20 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games Commemorative Note

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)

 

Like the Bank of China's 2008 Beijing Olympics $20 commemorative note, the bank issued a new $20 banknote celebrating the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic games. The games were held from 04.02.2021 to 20.02.2022. Chinese New Year started on 01.02.2022. 

This is the third Winter Olympic Games banknote ever issued in the history of the games since 1924. Previous two notes issued were the Russia Sochi 2014 games, and then followed by South Korea PyeongChang 2018 games.

Unlike those issued in China and Macau, all notes are issued in a folder and come with a plastic cover protector, which is good for shipping and storage. This series comes in the following formats:- 

 

Single note - sold at HK$138 each (1.57 million sets);

4-in-one uncut sheet - HK$338 each (20,000 sets or 80,000 notes); and 

35-in-one sheet - HK$1,338 each (10,000 sets or 350,000 notes).

Like all previous commemorative notes issued in Hong Kong, purchasing of this series was done via online application. Application for the purchase was opened via the Internet on 01.12.2021 and closed on 10.12.2021, with the winners announced on 21.12.2021. It is not sure if the single notes were all subscribed, however, the uncut sheets for the 4-in-1 were very successful and as such, allocations for these were done via computer balloting. 

 

A total of 2.0 million notes were issued. Included in the 1.57 single notes, 200 single notes were set aside for public auction. These notes are all printed with low, unique or auspicious serial numbers. All profits raised from the sales were donated to various charities.

 

According to a report, this note was launched on 24.11.2021 by Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po. The theme for this note is based on a Tang dynasty poem "From Far Away You Share This Moment With Me". Unfortunately, this Winter games was restricted with no foreign spectators allowed due to the ongoing pandemic, so most people were only able to enjoy the games via their own home's telly.

The front features the emblem of the coming Games and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, adorned with snowflakes, according to Dai Xiaodong, the bank’s general manager of financial management department. 

Apart from the notes printed with no letter and AA prefixes, they are also printed with the AB prefix. Like those previous commemorative notes issued, it is not expected to see these notes circulating in the economy at face value. These notes will be kept as a souvenir for generations to come. 

 

Twenty Dollars Commemorative (No letter prefix)

Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong

Twenty Dollars Commemorative (Prefix AA)

Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong

 

The design on the front of the note is very similar to the current $20 series. On the front, it has the Bank of China main building. In the center of the note, it has the giant snowflake, printed on it is the Beijing 2022 Olympics logo. On the top right-hand corner, the two leaves printed on the current $20 has been replaced by the national flower of Bauhinia. This note is dated 01.01.2022. 

 

This note is printed with the Galaxy windowed security thread with Saturn effect and demetalised 20 and Bauhinia flowers. It also has the watermark of a giant snowflake and electrotype 20. 

 

Signature - Sun Yu (appointed 23.12.2020)

Watermark - Giant snowflake and electrotype 20

Imprinter - Hong Kong Note Printing Limited

Dimension - 143mm x 71.5mm

 

Twenty Dollars Commemorative (Prefix AB)

Dimensions - 144mm x 72mm 

 

On the back, the design is on a vertical format, depicting the main image of a speed skater and an alpine skier. On top of it is the silhouette of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour under the shimmering moonlight and at the bottom is the image of the Great Wall of China, and mountains. This note is predominantly printed in blue colour.

 

A speed skater and an alpine skier, Great Wall of China

Front Folder Cover

Hong Kong Bank of China HK - 2017 3-in-1 $100 Centenary Commemorative 1917-2017

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

Bank of China (Hong Kong Branch)

These are two uncut sheets of three $100 notes issued in 2017 celebrating the bank's 100th year of establishment in Hong Kong 1917-2017. The sheets below are printed with no letters prefix and with AA prefix. Other prefixes such as AB, BC, HK and HY are also issued. If you collect all prefixes for this issue then a complete set should be 6 pieces. Lucky you if you have them all.

In my opinion, I do not believe the bank had printed any replacement prefix, however I can't explain why they have printed prefixes like AA, AB and HY. It would be logical to have AA and AB prefixes but why HY? What is HY stands for?

One Hundred Dollars

No Prefix

AA Prefix

Reverse

...Hong Kong Bank of China HK - 2017 $100 Centenary Commemorative 1917-2017

中 國 銀 行 (香 港) 有 限 公 司

Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BoCHK)

HK$100 commemorative banknote issued on 20.12.2017, celebrating the bank’s 100th year of service in Hong Kong. This note is printed with the date 24.09.2017.

*Front: The design of this Commemorative note features the BoC Tower in Hong Kong, which is also an iconic landmark in Hong Kong, the old BoCHK branch, the image of the Great Wall of China, and the BoC HQ in Beijing. The design also features the Chinese famous ancient building pillar joint/support which has been proven for thousands of years in withstanding earthquakes no matter how strong it was. These ancient pillar joints were built without any nails or screws (assembled like a jigsaw puzzle) and still can be seen in many famous old buildings around China today. The note is also printed with the Commemorative tests in Chinese "中國銀行在港服務壹佰週年" (Bank of China 100th Year of Service in Hong Kong).
*Back: Victoria harbour showing on both sides viewing from Victoria Peak with the Bank of China Tower clearly standing out from the view. Where is the Two International Financial Center tower? Image of the bank's logo and surrounded by 11 smaller logos of it's subsidiaries are also added to the design to the note. Image of newspaper advertisement of the bank first opening for business in Hong Kong.

Signature: Chief Executive Yue Yi (appointed since 06.03.2015)

A total of 5 million notes printed and issued in 3 formats; -
Single folder set – 2.90M at HK288 per set;
3-in-One uncut sheet = 300,000 sets at HK$988 per set; and
30-in-One = 40,000 sets at HK$13,888.
Total sets issued = 3.24M
Prefixes issued Single: None, AA, AB, BC, HK & HY
Prefixes issued 3-in-One: None, AA, AB, BC, HK & HY

The above were opened for pre-order between 28.09.2017 to 18.10.2017. Unfortunately, like all previous banks commemorative banknotes issued in Hong Kong, the offer was only applicable to those who are residing in Hong Kong. Successful buyers were announced on 01.11.2017 with payment due by 21.11.2017. The note is then available for collection between 20.12.2017 to 31.12.2017.

In addition to the above, 388 sets (single, 3-in-1 & 30-in-1) with special or lucky numbers were sold via public auction. The bidding period was opened between 20.10.2017 to 08.11.2017. The minimum bid price ranges from HK$5,000 (single note) to HK$60,000 per set (30-in-1 uncut sheet).

-Single note Gold Premium Edition (45 sets) $10,000;
-Single note Silver Premium Edition (90 sets) $8,000;
-Single note Bronze Premium Edition (114 sets) $5,000;
-3-in-1 uncut sheet Platinum Deluxe Edition (25 sets) $30,000;
-3-in-1 uncut sheet Pearl Deluxe Edition (75 sets) $20,000;
-30-in-1 uncut sheet Diamond Deluxe Edition (19 sets) $60,000; and
-30-in-1 uncut sheet Jade Deluxe Edition (20 sets) $50,00.

BOC donated all the net proceeds from the above sales to various charity organisations in Hong Kong.

One Hundred Dollars

No Prefix

AA Prefix

AB Prefix

BC Prefix

HK Prefix

HY Prefix

Reverse

The Bank of China first set up their first sub-branch in Hong Kong on 24.09.1917 with less than 10 employees. In 2001, the BoCHK was formed following the merger of 9 other banks namely, The Kwangtung Provincial Bank (1905*?), Sin Hua Bank Limited (1947), The China & South Sea Bank Limited (1934), Kincheng Banking Corporation (1917*?), The China State Bank Limited (1938), The National Commercial Bank Limited (1946), The Yien Yieh Commercial Bank Limited (1915*?), Hua Chiao Commercial Bank Limited (1962) and Po Sang Bank Limited (1949). The merger was approved by the Hong Kong Legislative Council. Today BoCHK is the second largest commercial bank (after HSBC) in Hong Kong, employing more than 12,000+ staff looking after more than 300 branches all over Hong Kong.

* (?) - Year originally established in China. I have no info as to when these banks first commenced trading in Hong Kong.

In case you are wondering, here are the top 10 banks in Hong Kong (2016 ranking);

HongKong & Shanghai Banking Corporation - Est.1865;
Bank of China (Hong Kong) - Est.1917;
Hang Seng Bank - Est.1933;
Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong - Est.1859;
The Bank of East Asia - Est.1918;
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China - Est.2005;
DBS Hong Kong - Est.1999;
Wing Hang Bank - Est.1937;
Nangyang Commercial Bank - Est.1949;
Citic Bank International - Est.1989.

Comment:

i) The notes were all sold at a premium as mentioned above. Unlike some of the previous issues, many of these notes are available in the market selling less than the issued prices. One of the reasons is that collectors in Hong Kong and China, and to some extent, including a few other South East Asian countries, dislike collecting banknotes with serial numbers containing the digits of 4s and 7s. This is more superstitious than any other reason. To the Cantonese in Hong Kong, the #4 sounded like death and the #7 sounded like a male private part. Price guide printed in China also detailed price differences with the Chinese notes. This is sometimes hard to avoid as in every 10 notes, there is a 4 and a 7. You will also find that a solid 4s usually fetch a lower premium than any other solid notes. The other reason is that this is a rather large issue and too many are available in the market. More importantly, I believe this issue was not as successful as those previously issued. Those who bought them thinking of making a quick profit found themselves holding the notes with weak demand and as such cashing them in to cut their losses. Whether the issue price has any impact on this, I am not sure but then this is the fifth commemorative note issued in the territory and perhaps collectors may find the novelty fated out by now.

Hong Kong Bank of China - $100 3 in 1 Uncut Sheet 2012 Commemorative

One Hundred Dollars - 3 in 1 Uncut Sheet with no Letter prefix

Dated 2012

Revesre

Hong Kong Bank of China $100 3-in-1 Uncut Sheet. This is a limited commemorative uncut sheet which was issued in 2012 to celebrates the bank 100th year of establishment (5.2.1912). A total sheets of 100,000 were issued at a price of HK$600 each. The bank originally started in 1905 when the last Chinese Imperial government (Qing Dynasty 1644-1911) established Daqing Hubu Bank. In 1908, the bank changed it's name to Daqing Bank. Following the establishment of the Republic of China in 1911, the bank was then renamed Bank of China by the Nationalist Kuomintang government let by Dr Sun Yet-sen. After the Chinese civil war ended (1.10.1949) between the Communist and the Nationalist, the bank split into two operations, with one part of it's operation shifted to Taiwan under the Nationalist Kuomintang government let by Chiang Kai-shek. The Taiwan operation later changed it's name in 1971 and merged with the Taiwan Bank of Communication. The mainland operation's name remains unchanged. BoC, by market capitalisation, is the 5th largest bank in the world. Even though BoC is owned by the government of the Peoples' Republic of China, it is not the Central of China (Peoples' Bank of China). BoC operates in 27 countries and employed staffs in excess of 280,000 worldwide. The BoC (Hong Kong branch) commenced it's operation in 1917. The bank was forced to closed temporary during the Japanese occupation in 1941 and reopened in 1946 following the end of the war. Right up to 1942, BoC issued banknotes in China on behalf of the Nationalist government. In 1994, the BoC (HK) was granted the license in Hong Kong to issue banknotes in the territory.

The primary colour of this note is in red, an auspicious and iconic colour, representing jubilation and passion

Front Folder Cover

Total notes issued = 2,000,000 prints

Single note = 1,100,000 pieces (HK$150 each)

3 in one Uncut x 100,000 = 300,000 single notes (HK$600 each)

30 in one Uncut x 20,000 = 600,000 single notes (HK$6,000 each)

Net profit generated from this issued was donated to BoCHK Charitable Foundation and other charitable organisations of Hong Kong. In view of the issue price, none of the notes were intended for general circulation.

Hong Kong - Bank of China 2012 Commemorative 100th Year Anniversary

One Hundred Dollars
No Prefix

Dated 2012, PNL

AA Prefix

Dated 2012, PNL

AB Prefix

Dated 2012, PNL

Reverse

"A Century of Glory and Global Services"

This note celebrates the bank 100 year of establishment (5.2.1912). The bank originally started in 1905 when the last Chinese Imperial government established Daqing Hubu Bank and in 1908 changed it's name to Daqing Bank. Following the establishment of the Republic of China, the bank was then renamed Bank of China by the Nationalist Kuomintang government. After the Chinese civil war ended in 1949, the bank split into two operations, with one part of it's operation shifted to Taiwan. The Taiwan operation later changed it's name in 1971 and merged with the Taiwan Bank of Communication. The mainland operation remains unchanged. BoC, by market capitalisation, is the 5th largest bank in the world. The bank operates in 27 countries and employed staffs in excess of 380,000 worldwide. The BoC (Hong Kong branch) commenced it's operation in 1917. The bank was forced to closed temporary during the Japanese occupation in 1941 and reopened in 1946 following the end of the war. In 1994, the BoC (HK) was granted the license in Hong Kong to issue banknotes in the territory.

Total notes issued = 2.0M
Single note = 1,100,000 (HK$150 each)
3 in one Uncut x 100,000 = 300,000 single notes (HK$600 each)
30 in one Uncut x 20,000 = 600,000 single notes (HK$6000 each)
Net profit generated from this issued will be donated to BoCHK Charitable Foundation and other charitable organisations of Hong Kong. In view of the issue price, this note is not intended for general circulation.

Hong Kong Bank of China - $20 2008 Beijing Olympic

Twenty Dollars, Dated 16.7.2008 P339

Commemorative Beijing China 2008 Olympic Games

Dated 2008, PNL

Reverse