234 Overseas Post
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (continued)
within such period; books and pamphlets printed wholly or chiefly in languages other than English, and books and music in raised print used exclusively by or for the blind,
On dutiable items a charge of 13 cents (33 cents in the case of Small packets) is collected from the addressee for customs clearance and delivery.
PARCEL POST
Postage:
Surface
Not over 21b. 3lb. 7lb. 11lb. 22lb. $6.50 6.50 9.00 11.50 21.00
Air mail Each lb., $8.50
Supplemental services available: Insurance, air and surface, limit $1,840. Customs declaration: Once adhesive form. Option (ii) on the Customs declaration form for undeliverable parcels is not available in the service with U.S.A., nor can undeliverable parcels be returned by air.
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; charged butane gas lighters; contraceptives; cotton, cotton seed and cotton seed products (cotton goods are admitted; for cotton seed oil, unmanufactured cotton and cotton waste see Restrictions below); drugs and therapeutic products; (certain of these products are admitted); feathers and skins of wild birds (except ostrich feathers) unless for educational or scientific purposes; fresh fruit; gold bullion exceeding 100 U.S. dollars in value; intoxicating liquors; potatoes; tickets, advertisements or circulars of lotteries; circular advertising obscene or immoral articles.
Restrictions apply to the importation of: Arms; bees; cereals; cigars, cigarettes and cherools; cotton seed oil, cotton waste and unmanufactured cotton; empty butane gas lighters and refills; gold coin; goods originating in China (except Formosa) or in North Korea, or goods of which part consists or is made of goods originating in China (except Formosa) or North Korea; meat and meat food products; radio-active substances and articles containing radio-active substances; viruses, serums and toxins. Import permits are required for all parcels containing bulbs, plants, parts of plants and seeds.
Packing and marking: A large yellow label, diamond shaped, bearing in black the name of the sender and a warning to keep away from fire and light, must be affixed to parcels containing inflammable films or celluloid. Parcels containing safety films must be clearly marked Films-Non-inflammable.
Hay and straw should not be used for packing goods of any type. Senders are advised to use excelsior, shredded paper, vermiculite or other synthetic materials. Invoice : With certain exceptions consignments valued at more than $500 must be accompanied by a Special Customs Invoice (Customs from 5515). Copies of this form together with instructions for its completion may be obtained from the United States Embassy, or from any U.S. Consulate. Exporters may reproduce their own copies provided they conform in all respects to the official form.
Origin: Every article (except books imported by or for the account of any public library or library association) capable of being stamped, branded or labelled at the time of its manufacture, without suffering damage, must, as well as its immediate container and the packing in which the article is sent, be conspicuously and indelibly stamped or branded and so on, in English characters with an indica- tion 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. Customs clearance: If the value of the goods contained in a parcel (or in several parcels sent at the same time by one sender to the same addressee) exceeds 250 U.S. dollars, the parcel(s) will require formal entry in the U.S.A.