168 Overseas Post
PUERTO RICO
(continued)
Packets containing merchandise which bear neither the endorsement described nor a green customs label can be accepted only at sender's risk.
Prohibitions: Contraceptives; gold coin or bullion exceeding 50 U.S. dollars in value.
Restrictions apply to the importation of: Bees; cigarettes and cigars; plants and parts of plants; radio-active substances and articles containing radio-active substances.
Origin: Every article (except books imported by or for the account of any public library association) capable of being stamped, branded or labelled at the time of its manufacture, without suffering damage, must be conspicuously and indelibly stamped or branded and so on, in English characters with an indication of the country of origin. All goods which may be presumed to have originated in China or North Korea should be accompanied by a certificate of origin. Invoice: An invoice must be enclosed in all packets containing either mer- chandise or books for sale; and a statement (giving accurate particulars of contents and value) in all packets containing merchandise or books not sent in execution of an order or not for sale. Each packet should be marked on the address side Invoice Enclosed. If the total value of the goods contained in a packet or in several packets sent at the same time by the same sender to the same addressee exceeds 250 U.S. dollars, the invoice or statement may have to be certified by a United States consul and senders are recommended to make inquiry of a United States consul if in doubt as to whether certification is necessary in any particular case. Sample packets should be marked Trade Samples.
Customs duty. Articles (except those subject to internal revenue tax, such as cigars, cigarettes and so on) the aggregate value of which is not more than 1 U.S. dollar are admitted free of duty provided they are not imported for sale or forwarded for the purpose of avoiding the payment of duty. Bona fide gifts up to 10 U.S. dollars in value are also admitted free of duty. The undermentioned articles are also exempt from duty:--
Newspapers and periodicals (the term periodicals is to be understood to include only unbound or paper-covered publications issued within six months of the time of entry, devoted to current literature of the day or containing current literature as a predominant feature, and issued regularly at stated periods as weekly, monthly or quarterly, and bearing the date of issue), books, engravings, photographs, etchings (bound or unbound), maps, and charts imported for the use of the United States, and addressed to any department, bureau, or division of the Government; publications issued for their subscribers or exchanges by scientific or literary asso- ciations or academies, publications of individuals for gratuitous private circulation, not advertising matter; public documents issued by foreign governments; books, maps, music, engravings, photographs, etchings, lithographic prints (bound or unbound) and charts which have been printed more than 20 years and not rebound wholly or in part in leather within such period; books and pamphlets printed wholly or chiefly in languages other than English, and books and music in raised print use exclusively by or for the blind.
A charge of 10 cents for customs clearance and, in addition, a delivery fee of 5 cents in the case of Small Packets, are collected from the addressee.
PARCEL POST
Supplemental services available ; None.
Customs declaration : One adhesive form.
The value shown on the customs declaration must not be less than the market value in Hong Kong. If more than one parcel is sent at one time to one addressee. the sender should number the parcels consecutively and should indicate on each parcel the number of parcels forming the consignment. For instance, if the con- signment consists of three parcels, the parcels should be numbered 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 respectively. One customs declaration may be used for any number of ordinary parcels from one sender to one addressee. The total number of parcels forming the consignment should be shown on the customs declaration.
Prohibitions : Letters; contraceptives; cotton seed, cotton and cotton seed products (except oil, unmanufactured cotton and cotton waste; see Restrictions below); feathers and skins of wild birds (except ostrich feathers) unless for educational or scientific purposes, fresh fruit; gold coin or bullion exceeding 50 U.S. dollars in value; intoxicating liquors; potatoes.