HONG KONG, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Hongkong Post said Tuesday that it will release a set of special stamps to commemorate the upcoming launch of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL).

The special stamps, together with associated philatelic products, will be open for sale on Sept. 17, about one week before the XRL is set to be put into operation.

The set of four stamps, symbolizing the linkage in the region and showing the vivid colors and smooth lines of the XRL trains, features the three cities along the new railway, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, with various motifs representing the cultural characteristics and landmarks of the cities.

The design for the central part of the train forms a pair of linked hands to signify that Hong Kong and the mainland will join hands to explore new opportunities through closer exchange in economic affairs and other aspects, Hongkong Post said.

The Hong Kong section of the XRL, a 26-km full-tunnel railway running from the terminus in Hong Kong's West Kowloon to the boundary with Shenzhen, will be commissioned on Sept. 23.

The high-speed railway, which will greatly shorten the travelling time by rail from Hong Kong to major cities in the Chinese mainland and include Hong Kong in the expanding national high-speed rail network, is expected to help consolidate Hong Kong's status as a transport hub in the region and strengthen exchange and economic ties between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.