During recent years the people on the Chinese mainland, suffering from hunger and slavery under the bondage of the communists, have long struggled between life and death. In addition, unusually severe famines in the early 1960's as result of communism drove millions of people to desparation. In May 1962 the hunger-stricken people began to gather in groups and to pour into Hongkong, seeking survival and freedom. Within a few days there followed a mass exodus of thousands and tens of thousands of destitute, hungry people fleeing from the mainland and running for freedom, a world-shocking event generally known as the〝May Exodus.〞　　To publicize the communist failures and to invite public attention to the aspiration of freedom of our mainland compatriots, and in the hope that concerted efforts be made for overthrowing the communist tyranny and the deliverance of the people from their distress, a set of 〝Chinese Refugees Fleeing Mainland for Freedom〞Commemorative Postage Stamps was issued. The stamps were released on June 27, 1963, the first anniversary of a date when the first batch of Chinese refugees of the 〝May Exodus〞 were evacuated to Taiwan from Hongkong.