T
HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.
1.-The Head Office for British Postal business in China is at Hongkong; there is a Post Office also at Shanghai, and Agencies at the following places :-
Canton, Hoihow (honorary), Macao (honorary), Swatow, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, and Hankow.
2. All complainis, or representations of matters which cannot be adjusted locally, should be addressed to the Postmaster General, Hongkong, and, if marked On Postal Business, will be forwarded free by any Postmaster or Agent (see also paragraph 95). The cover of any corres- pondence about which complaint is made should invariably be forwarded with such complaint. Neglect of this generally renders enquiry impossible.
Postage Stamps.
3.-Hongkong Postage Stamps of the following values can be purchased and are available at any British Post Office or Agency in China :-
2 cents, or ld.
96 cents, or 4/0.
4
2d.
"
"
6
3d.
8
4d.
JF
>>
12
JI
"
6d.
16 cents, or 8d.
18
9d.
2 Dollars,,, 8/4.
24
"
1/0.
3
»
30
""
13.
10
"
12/6. ,, 41/8.
48
..
2/0.
is offices out of China.
4. These Stamps are not available at R 5.-British Postage Stamps are not solu
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the offic, a nained above, nor are they available except for the correspondence of officers and sea of l'er Majesty's fleet.
6. Postage must be prepaid in Stamps, not in ongy. The Stamps must be whole, clean, and placed on the address side of the letter. No refund will be made of any extra charge resulting from stamps placed on the seal side being overlooked. Stamps should be carefully affixed so as not to fall off, as they sometimes do.
7.-Postmasters and Agents are allowed (but not required) to purchase Hongkong Postage Stamps from foreign residents.
8.-The Stamps tendered for sale must not exceed 350 in value, must be perfectly clean, and in good condition. They must be presented persally or accompanied by a note.
9.-The Postmaster or Agent may postpone arch sing if his public funds in hand are not sufficient, and he will refuse to purchase in any case which appears doubtful or suspicious. He is allowed to charge a commission of e per cent. on all stamps purchased.
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10.-Letters containing Stamps should be Registered, and the stamps should be secured from observation.
11.-Boxholders (but boxholders only) are at liberty to mark their Postage Stamps on the back or face, or by perforation, so a to prevent their being stolen. If the mark be on the face, it must be such as not to interfere with the c'ean appearance of the stamp.
12.-Postage Stamps are sold for cech oul. Correspondence will not be stamped at the Post Office and charged to a boxholder's acco it, except as provided by the local Postage Regula- tions (see paragraph 103).
13.-The shroffs who sell stamps are not allowed to affix them, even if requested to do so. This must be done by the purchaser.
14.-Specimen Stamps cannot be supplied to the public except on receipt of their full value, which is as follows:-
Complete set of ordinary Stamps, including obsolete values.......... Complete do, high value....
$ 3 38 or 14/1. 15.00 62/6.
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$18.38 or 76/7.
The officers of the Post Office cannot undertake to collect obliterated Postage Stamps.
15.-All persons are recommended to keep Postage Stamps under lock and key, and in posting large quantities of correspondence to send it in a box carefully sealed.+ The safest plan is to seal on the wood itaelf without tape or string. The old wax should be removed before more is applied. Locked boxes cannot be allowed. The best way to deal with Postage Stamps that have got stuck together is to steam them for a few minutes, separate them gently, and dry them on blotting paper in the sun.
16.-A receipt book should be sent with each box, but as the receiving officer cannot under- take to count the correspondence sent, he only gives a receipt for One Bor. Loose receipts give much extra trouble, and are not recommended. The back leaves of the Receipt Book should be
• Cheques and Compradores' orde1s cannot be considered as cash.
↑ Boxholders only are privileged to do this.