General Information 5
STAMPS
MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS
USE OF POSTAGE STAMPS. It is not part of the duty of Post Office staff to affix stamps to mail, nor to provide gum or sealing wax.
IMPERFECT OF DEFACED STAMPS are not valid for payment of postage. Stamps are cancelled by the Post Office as evidence of service rendered, and the re-use of stamps with intent to defraud is a punishable offence. Perforations are however permitted, see Perforation with initials.
Stamps should be affixed to the top right-hand corner of the address side of the envelope or wrapper. When stamps are so affixed that one stamp overlaps another, concealing part of its surface, the stamp thus covered is not taken into account and the item may be treated as underpaid.
PERFORATION WITH INITIALS. Postage stamps may be perforated with initials (but not with names or trade marks) provided that the perforating holes are no larger than those dividing one stamp from another in a sheet of stamps. The work of perforating postage stamps with initials cannot be undertaken by the Post Office. OBSOLETE STAMPS. Postage stamps issued in the reigns of Queen Victoria, Kings Edward VII, George V and George VI are no longer valid for the payment of postage, and are not repurchased by the Post Office.
USE OF CUT-OUT POSTAGE STAMPS. Embossed or impressed postage stamps cut out from envelopes, postcards or letter forms may be used as adhesive stamps in payment of postage charges provided they are not imperfect, mutilated or defaced in any way. Revenue stamps cannot be used for payment of postage. Embossed or impressed stamps indicating the payment of a registration fec may only be used for registered correspondence. The OFFICIAL PAID design which is used on official stationery is not valid if cut out from the cover, label or form on which it is printed. REPURCHASE OF UNUSED OR SPOILED STAMPS. Allowance is made under certain conditions for unused postage stamps which:
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(a) have been purchased for postal purposes within the past two years, or
(b) have been inadvertently and undesignedly spoiled or rendered unfit for use
within the past two years.
Stamps which have been removed from any material or cut out or detached from stationery will not be accepted. If the stamps are affixed to or imprinted on envelopes or other stationery, the envelopes and so on must be surrendered entire, any confidential matter being obliterated if necessary. No allowance can be made for the value of the stationery apart from the value of the stamps.
No smaller amount than $10 worth of unused stamps or stamped stationery, will be accepted from one person at one time. As far as possible the stamps should be in blocks or pairs and should be made up into $10 packets. Commission is charged at the rate of 5 per cent of the face value of stamps repurchased. A minimum charge of 80c. is made in the case of spoiled stamps. The stamps should be forwarded to the Chief Postal Accountant, G.P.O., Hong Kong.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL
POSTAL
Subject to certain exceptions, the Postmaster General possesses, by virtue of the Post Office Ordinance, the exclusive privilege of carrying letters from place to place, and of performing all incidental services such as those of collecting and delivering letters.
The principal exceptions are:--
Letters sent by a private friend, on his journey, to be delivered to the person to whom they are directed;
Letters sent by the servant of the sender or by a special messenger employed by him;
Letters concerning goods sent by carrier, such letters being carried gratuitously and delivered with the goods to which they relate; and
Packets containing news intelligence, that is, matter or pictures for publication in a newspaper.
No collection of letters of any kind (whether exempt from the Postmaster General's privilege or not) can be made for the purpose of conveyance or delivery, and carriers are specially prohibited from carrying letters.
Penalties are imposed for any infringement of the Postmaster General's rights.
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