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HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.
397
if specially requested. Merchants or bankers who have several letters to register at once are requested to send a list of the addresses in duplicate, one copy of which is at once signed by the registry clerk as a receipt.
48.-Registration cannot be carried on up to the very moment of closing the mail. The time fixed for its cessation varies from five minutes up to an hour before that time. Letters for registration should be presented in good time, and, except when it is necessary, persons should avoid presenting correspondence for registry by next mail whilst the officers of the Post Office are busy in closing that one actually going (see paragraphs 98 and 99).
49.-All letters addressed to the United Kingdom or to any port in China, and marked Registered, but dropped into the box, are liable to compulsory registration. That is to say, they are registered and a double fee is charged on delivery.
50.-Registered letters must not be looked upon as insured. No compensation would be paid in case of their loss, whether accidental or otherwise.
51.-A moment's reflection will shew that, if an ordinary letter or packet be once lost, there is almost no chance of its being traced. A registered letter, however, is practically beyond risk of loss (except from casualty) and may be looked on as absolutely safe. To register all valuable letters is not only a wise but is also a cheap precaution.
52.-It is particularly recommended that packets of photographs, collections of postage stamps, &c., be registered. These objects often have not only a high intrinsic value, but also it may be impossible to replace them. They offer temptations to theft, and photographs frequently attract attention from the way in which they are packed. It is not judicious to risk some guineas' worth of works of art for the sake of a 4d. registration fee.
Newspapers.
53.—A newspaper must not exceed four ounces in weight, or it is liable to an additional rate of postage. It may be prepaid as a book at the option of the sender. The union rate of postage is 2 cents each, or 4 cents exceptional (see paragraph 30).
54.-A bundle of newspapers may be prepaid at so much each (and each one must count, however small) or the whole may be paid at book rate.
55.-Two newspapers must not be folded together as one, nor must anything whatever be inserted except bond fide supplements of the same paper, and same date. Printed matter may, however, be enclosed if the whole be paid at book rate.
56.-A supplement must consist of matter generally similar to that of the newspaper, be published with it, and have the title and date of the paper at the top of each page.
57.-Scarves, gloves, presents, &c., are sometimes enclosed in newspapers. The public should understand that this is dishonest. When such articles are discovered in a newspaper or book, if it can be sent on unpaid it is charged as an unpaid letter (postage and fine often amount- ing to 30s. or 40s.) otherwise the goods are confiscated.
58-A newspaper must be open at the ends. If it contain any written communication whatever it will be charged as a letter. It should be folded with the title outwards, and the cover should be arranged so as to slip off easily. The common practice of securing it with the stamp is open to objection. The direction should be written on the paper itself, as well as on the cover, in case of the loss of the latter.
59.-Much delay and trouble are frequently caused by piles of newspapers or circulars being posted all stuck together, on account of the careless gumming of the covers. Not only is time and care required to separate them, but it generally happens that the stamps adhere to the wet gum on the back of each cover, rather than to their proper places, thus getting lost, and occasioning much confusion.
Prices Current and Circulars.
60.-A price current or circular may be paid as a newspaper or as a book. A bundle of prices current or circulars may be paid as so many newspapers (each one counting) or the whole may be paid at book rate. The Union rate of postage is 2 cents each, or 4 cents exceptional (see paragraph 30).
61.-The plan of sending circulars, &c., in envelopes with the flaps folded inwards is open to objection and gives much trouble, as such envelopes are hardly distinguishable from letters. The same applies to envelopes with small portions of the ends or corners cut open. These are generally cut wholly open by the examining officers, and the contents are, in consequence, in some danger of falling out. (See also paragraph 59).
62.-During the last few hours of closing the mails for Europe, large masses of circulare should not be posted for other steamers. Circulars and Prices Current should not be sent to the Post Office mixed up with letters or newspapers, but in bundles, with the addresses all one way. Books and Patterns.
63.-Books and patterns are charged at so much per two ounces. The Union rate is 4 cents, or 6 cents exceptional (sce paragraph 30).
64--The term books includes all kinds of literary matter, with whatever is necessary for its illustration or safe transmission, as maps, rollers, binding, &c., but a book must contain no communication whatever of the nature of a letter.
65.-A book may, however, contain an inscription presenting it, notes or marks referring to the text, or such writing as With the author's compliments, &c.