New HK$1,000 notes now in circulation

A sample of the new $1,000 banknote from Standard Chartered. (Source: HKMA)

The new HK$1,000 bills will go into circulation starting today (December 12), according to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).

The HKMA said the three note-issuing banks (NIBs)—Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited—will start issuing new banknotes today.

“The 2018 New Series HK$1,000 notes and HK$500 notes will be issued into circulation on 12 December 2018 and 23 January 2019 respectively, and be available at the three note-issuing banks starting from the issuance dates,” the HKMA said in a statement.

“The other three denominations of HK$100, HK$50 and HK$20 will enter circulation between mid-2019 and early 2020,” it added.

The HKMA said they will also make public announcements when the other new notes are about to go into circulation.

“Together with the 2018 Series, all other banknotes currently in circulation will continue to be legal tender,” it added.

The HKMA unveiled the new 2018 series of Hong Kong banknotes in July.

The HKMA said the new series will come in five denominations—$1,000, $500, $100, $50, and $20.

“Consistent with the current series, the new series will consist of five denominations, each adopting the same colour scheme.  It is the first time that the thematic subjects on the reverse side of the NIBs’ new series banknotes are standardised for each denomination to facilitate easy recognition by the public,” the HKMA said.

The five denominations depict Hong Kong’s position as international financial centre (HK$1,000), the spectacular Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark (HK$500), Cantonese opera to highlight the city’s art and cultural legacy (HK$100), butterflies that inhabit Hong Kong (HK$50), and the popular dim sum and tea culture (HK$20).

“The selected thematic subjects represent different aspects of Hong Kong as an international metropolis, featuring its rhythm of life, recreation and entertainment, as well as its rich natural and cultural heritage,” the HKMA said.

“For aesthetic presentation of the subject and easy distinction from previous series, the reverse side of the banknote is in vertical orientation instead of the traditional horizontal layout,” it added.

The new banknotes have incorporated advanced security features— a dynamic shimmering pattern, windowed metallic thread, enhanced watermark, fluorescent see-through denomination, concealed denomination, and embossed feel.