No 27, of 18th.
Inclosure N° 8 in Despatches
sub-Enclosure to No8.
Government Notification
16th April, 1846.
Jobe
294
In 1204 AK
POST OFFICE REGULATIONS.
To take effect on and after the 10th day of April instant.
The Regular Mail between the United Kingdom and Hongkong consists of two portions, the General Mail by Marseilles and the Supplementary Mail by Southampton. All letters to go by the latter route must be addressed via Southampton.
Postages on letters via Marseilles to or from the United Kingdom cannot be paid here.
—do— —do— hence "via Southampton" to the United Kingdom, &c., prepayment optional.
and Newspapers hence for Foreign countries (France and Holland excepted) must be prepaid. No Postages upon stamped British Newspapers from Great Britain via Southampton "nor upon Hongkong Newspapers hence "via Southampton" to the United Kingdom; but if "via Marseilles" subject in the United Kingdom to a charge of 3d. Rates upon Ship Letters and Newspapers properly forwarded to and from the United Kingdom not collected here.
From Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Bermuda, Jamaica, Barbadoes, Dominica, Antigua, Nevis, St. Kitts, Tortola, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Tobago, Grenada, Trinidad, Berbice, Demerara, Bahamas, Carriacoa, Montserrat, Malta, Gibraltar, and New Zealand, not collected here. upon Ship Letters properly forwarded, from British Colonies and not under the control of the Postmaster General subject to 4d. per half ounce &c. mutatis mutandis. upon Ship Letters hence to British Colonies and Foreign Countries not through the United Kingdom subject to 4d. per half ounce &c.
The British Scale.
For charging Postage on Letters above † Ounce and not exceeding 1 Ounce 2 Rates,
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 2 4 6 8 6 > > > > 3 6 > > > > > > > 4 8 > > ) G > > >And for every ounce above four ounces two additional rates and every fraction of an ounce will be charged as one additional ounce.
Scale of Postages.
Countries to which prepayment is compulsory in Hongkong.
Letters. Newspapers. Spain 3 2 Letter Rate, Portugal 2 7 do. Madeira, the Azores and Canary Islands 2 8 do. Brazil 3 7 do, Buenos Ayres and Monte Video 5 do. United States of America do. Panama, Chili. Peru, and Honduras do. Foreign West Indies, viz: Guadaloupe, Hayti, Martinique, Porto Rico, St. Croix, St Eustatius, St. Martin, and St. Thomas Mexico, Venezuela, New Grenada, and Cuba - 2 3 do. Austria and the Austrian Dominions 1 5 do. Sardinia and Southern Italy — British 1 5 Foreign 5 > " 1 10 do.Countries to which prepayment is optional in Hongkong.
Letters. Newspapers. Canada, New Brunswick, Prince Edwards Island and Nova Scotia H (Port and Town of Halifax excepted) Newfoundland, Bermuda, and the Port and Town of Halifax in Nova Scotia 2 British West Indies Jamaica do. Gibraltar and Heligoland H 2 2 Hamburgh, Lubec, Bremen and the Duchy of Oldenburgh Belgium Free. Denmark, Russia, Prussia, Baden, Wurtemberg and Bavaria Holland do. France 2 2 2 British 1 Foreign 5) do. 5) 6 Letter Rate. 2 4 do. 2 8 do. 2 Free. 1 10 do. each oz.The foreign rate of 5d is chargeable on a letter under a 4 oz. in weight and an additional rate of 5d for every additional ounce.
All newspapers to pass under these Regulations must be sent without a cover, or in a cover free and open at the sides—No sign of communication to be written or printed upon the paper subsequent to publication nor upon the cover beyond the necessary address of the person to whom sent; nor to contain any inclosure.
The attention of the public and particularly of Merchants, Masters of and Passengers in vessels is directed to the provisions of the Acts 1 Vic. C. 36 and 3 and 4 Vic. C. 96 prohibiting the delivery and sending of letters by vessels excepting through the Post Office under heavy penalties—making it incumbent upon all masters of vessels to deliver all letters to the Post Office and prohibiting vessels from being reported and from having bulk broken till a declaration by the Master of the faithful delivery of letters has been made and signed before the Post Master. The provisions of these acts extend to passengers in vessels delivering or having in their possession letters that ought to have been delivered to the Post Office thereon.
It is particularly requested that all letters may be fully and legibly addressed and the route marked.
All letters and newspapers will be delivered on application at the Post Office Window. The Post Office will be open from 10 A. M. to 4 P. M. but when a vessel is about to leave with letter bags the time will be extended and duly notified by notice at the Post Office.
Letters can on no account be received after the appointed time for closing the office.
Victoria, Hongkong, 5th April, 1844,
T. J. SCALES,
Deputy Post Master,