HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE
359
98.-No compensation can be paid for mere damage to fragile articles such as portraits, watches, handsomely bound books, &e., which reach their destination, although in a broken or deteriorated condition, nor on account of alleged losses of the contents of registered covers which safely reached their destinations, nor on account of any article for which the addressee has signed a receipt. No claim for compensation will be admitted if made more than a year after the article was posted.
99.-The Post Office declines all responsibility for unregistered letters containing bank notes, or jewellery, and where registration has been neglected will make no enquiries into alleged losses of such letters.
100.-A postcard enclosed in a packet of correspondence, for return to the sender by way of receipt, will not under any circumstances be admitted as evidence that any particular article reached the Post Office.
101.-Enquiry as to the disposal of a registered article will be made free of charge when the sender produces prima facie evidence that it has failed to reach the addressee. When, however, no such evidence is produced, a fee of 10 cents for an acknowledgment of delivery will be required before enquiry is instituted. No fee will be charged for enquiry when the sender has already paid for an acknowledgment of delivery.
102.-Officers employed in the Registration Department are forbidden to address registered mail matter, to enclose it in the envelope, seal it, or affix the stamps.
ARTICLES NOT ALLOWED TO BE SENT BY POST.
103.-The following articles cannot be sent through the post :--
(a) Samples of merchandise having a saleable value.
(b) Samples and other articles which, from their nature, may expose the postal
officials to danger, or soil or damage the correspondence.
(c) Explosive, inflammable, or dangerous substances.
(d) Animals or insects, living or dead.*
(e) Any indecent or obscene print, painting, photograph, lithograph, engrav
ing, book, or card, or any other indecent or obscene article, or any letter, newspaper, or publication, packet or card, having thereon any words, marks, or designs, of an indecent, obscene, libellous or grossly offensive character." 104.--It is forbidden to insert in ordinary or registered correspondence consigned to the post:-
(a) Current coin.
(b) Articles liable to Customs duty.
(c) Gold or silver bullion, precious stones, jewellery and other precious articles, but only in case their insertion or transmission is forbidden by the legislation of the countries concerned.
REDIRECTION AND INTERCEPTION.
105.-Letters, book packets, post cards, newspaper and book packets are not liable to additional postage for re-direction whether re-directed by an officer of the Post Office or by an agent of the addressees after delivery, provided in the latter case that the letters, &c., are re-posted not later than the day (Sundays and public holidays not being counted) after delivery, and that they do not appear to have been opened or tam- pered with. Re-directed registered letters must not be dropped into a letter box but must be handed to an officer of the Post Office to be dealt with as registered.
106.-Re-directed letters, &c., which are re-posted later than the day after delivery will be liable to charge at the prepaid rate. Any which appear to have been opened or tampered with will be chargeable as freshly posted unpaid letters or packets.
107.-Parcels are when re-directed liable to additional postage at the prepaid rate for each re-direction except when the original and corrected addresses are both within a delivery of the same Post Office.
108.---Letters and all other postal packets may, on payment of the following fees (to be paid by means of Postage stamps affixed to the request for interception), be intercepted and delivered to the addressee at such place as he shall request, viz:---
By any particular contract mail steamer from
Europe
By any vessel from any port during the course
of one calendar month
$1.00
$5.00
109.-Interceptions shall be made when practicable, but the fees so paid shall not entitle the persons applying to have their mail inatter intercepted to claim as of right the interception of all or any particular postal packet addressed to them.
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