Hong Kong unveils new 500- and 1,000-dollar notes




On 20 July 2010, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced it will begin producing banknotes with Braille and embossed lines for benefit of the visually impaired. The new notes will be phased in over the next two years and will feature Braille at the bottom left corner of each note, together with embossed lines that correspond with each notes value.

The HK$1,000 (US$129) and HK$500 (US$65), which were unveiled at the press conference, will be put into circulation in the last quarter of 2010 and early 2011, respectively. The design of the remaining three denominations, HK$100, HK$50 and HK$20, will be unveiled in mid-2011.

Each of the three banknote-issuing banks, the Bank of China, HSBC and Standard Chartered, will issue their respective versions. All will retain the current color schemes.

Visit the official HKMA site for more information.