2003 Series Banknotes

The 2003 Series Hong Kong Banknotes are issued by the three note-issuing banks in Hong Kong (Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited). They remain legal tender.

Leaflet: 2003 Series Hong Kong Banknotes (PDF File, 371.8 KB)

Design and Security Features

HSBC
BOCHK
SCBHK

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

Select Year

Done

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

HSBC
BOCHK

Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited

Select Year

Done

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

HSBC
BOCHK
SCBHK

Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited

Select Year

Done

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

Front

Front

Back

Back

1

Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode
Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
2

Iridescent Images
Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.
3

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink
The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
4

Holographic Windowed Thread
A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.

New Security Features

Expand All

Collapse All

Denomination Numeral in Optical Variable Ink

The colour of the denomination numeral shifts between gold and green when the banknote is viewed at different angles.
Fluorescent Machine Readable Barcode

Machine readable barcode visible under ultraviolet light.
Holographic Windowed Thread

A 4mm-wide security thread with holographic images woven in the paper.
Iridescent Images

Shimmering iridescent image showing bauhinia flowers when the banknote is tilted under a bright light.

Existing Security Features

Expand All

Collapse All

Concealed Image / Denomination

Visible when the banknote is tilted.
Intaglio Printing

Giving an embossed feel.
Invisible Fluorescent Fibres

Red, blue and green fibres (randomly embedded in the paper) visible under ultraviolet light.
Multitone and Highlight Watermarks

Can be seen when the note is held up to the light.
Security Thread

Visible from both sides.
See-through Feature

The patterns on the front and back fit perfectly when the banknote is held up to the light.
Serial Numbers

Novel vertical serial number on the left and horizontal serial number on the right.

Further Information

Q&As

Q: Why are the new series banknotes being issued?

A: The old series banknotes were designed nearly 10 years ago, so it is time to add new security features to help prevent counterfeiting. We have also taken this opportunity to standardise the security features to aid recognition.

Q: Why are the $20, $50 and $1,000 banknotes dated 2003 and not 2004?

A: Because these banknotes, together with the $100 and $500 banknotes issued in 2003, belong to the same series.

Q: Who designed and printed the new banknotes?

A: The note-issuing banks produced the designs for their banknotes. All new banknotes are printed by Hong Kong Note Printing Limited.

Q: What should I do if I think that a banknote may be counterfeit?

A: Retain the banknote and take it to the nearest police station as soon as possible. Alternatively, call the Commercial Crime Bureau at 2860 5012 or 2860 5013.

Related Information

Press Release(s)

Last revision date : 26 August 2019