618
Warrant for opening, delaying, or returning correspondence.
7 Will, 4 & 1 Vict.
c. 36 s. 25.
Power to detain, etc., correspondence bearing fictitious stamp, etc.
No. 6.] THE ORDINANCES OF HONGKONG: [A.D. 1900
19.-(1.) After any correspondence has been delivered to the Post Office, no person employed by or under the Post Office shall, except in the cases above mentioned, open the same, or delay its transmission, return it to any person, or procure or suffer it to be opened, delayed, returned, unless he is authorized by express warrant in writing under the hand of the Governor or the British Consul at the port.
(2.) The Governor, or the British Consul at the port, may, in his discretion, grant any such warrant for opening or returning any specified letter or other article of correspondence.
20. Notwithstanding anything in this Ordinance, any correspondence tendered for conveyance by post or posted which contains or bears any facsimile or imitation or any representation of any postage stamp or any fictitious postage stamp, or any correspondence tendered for conveyance by post or posted purporting to be prepaid with any postage stamp which has been used to prepay or appears to have been used to prepay any other correspondence, may be detained by an officer of the Post Office or person employed by or under the Post Office, and may be returned or given up to the sender or otherwise dealt with or disposed of in such manner as the Postmaster General may direct.
Power of Postmaster General to fine officer.
Reporting of fine to Governor.
Keeping of record of fines.
Application of fines.
Delivery of mails.
Discipline.
21. The Postmaster General may punish any officer of the Post Office, except the Assistant Postmaster General, for misconduct, or for neglect or breach of duty, by a fine not exceeding ten dollars, which shall be deducted by the Postmaster General from the pay of such officer.
22. The imposition of every such punishment shall be reported without delay to the Governor, who shall have power, if he thinks fit, to remit such fine, either wholly or partially.
23. A record of every such punishment shall be entered in a book for that purpose, which shall be called the Officers' Misconduct Book.
24. Such fines shall be applied to the general good of the officers of the Post Office in such manner as may from time to time be directed by the Governor.
Despatch and Receipt of Mails.
25.-(1.) Every master of a vessel shall, immediately on arrival and before reporting at the Harbour Office, deliver to the Post Office all letter bags and correspondence on board, except such as are exempt by law.
(2.) If such vessel is put in quarantine, the master shall deliver all such letter bags and correspondence to any person authorized by the Postmaster General to receive them or may deliver them to the Health Officer.