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HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE,
Soldiers' and Sailors' Letters.
68.-Privates in H.M. Army or Navy, Non-commissioned Officers,* Army Schoolmasters (not Superintending or first class), or Schoolmistresses may send half-ounce letters to the United Kingdom viâ Southampton for one penny, or via Brindisi for three-pence. Hongkong stamps will prepay this class of correspondence exactly the same as Imperial Stamps.
69.-Soldiers' and Sailors' Letters are, however, charged as Ordinary Letters if they do not conform to the following regulations :--
1.-Not to exceed half an ounce. No double letters are allowed.
2.—If from a soldier or sailor, his class or description must be stated in full on the letter, and the commanding officer must sign his name, with name of regiment, or ship, &c., in full.
3.—If to a soldier or sailor, his class or description must be stated in full, with name of
regiment, or ship, &c., in full.
Post Cards.
- 70. Three values of Post Cards are issued by the Hongkong Office, as follows:-
For local circulation, ie, by private ship anywhere within the limits of China,}
Japan, Siam, Cochin-China, Tonquin, or the Philippines
To Union Countries generally, or to Shanghai, Japan, or Saigon by Mail
Packet
ر
1 cent. +
3 cents.
4 cents.
To Union Countries viâ Brindisi and London 71.-Nothing must be written or printed on the stamped side of the card but the address. Any communication whatever, whether of the nature of a letter or not, may be written or printed, or partly written and partly printed on the other side. But no card will be forwarded on which anything libellous, insulting, or indecent has been written, printed, or drawn.
72-Nothing can be attached to a Post Card, nor may it be folded, cut, or otherwise altered. If so, it will be charged as a letter.
73.-No other kind of card can be forwarded through the Post except at letter rates, or at Book rate if the card bears no communication of the nature of a letter
74. In regard to hours for posting, late fees, &c., Post Cards are submitted to the same rules as letters.
75.-A card of insufficient value may be fully prepaid by the addition of an adhesive stamp of proper amount.
76.-The officers of the Post Office have strict instructions not to repeat or talk about anything they may see on Post Cards,
Books and Patterns.
77.—Books and patterns are charged at so much per two ounces. The Union rate is 2 cents, or 4 cents exceptional (see paragraph 16).
78. The term books includes all kinds of printed 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. Stamps of any kind, whether obliterated or not, or any papers representing monetary value, such as coupons, drafts, lottery tickets, &c., must be sent at letter rates.
79.-A book may contain an inscription presenting it, notes or marks referring to the text, or such writing as With the author's compl ̈:nents, &c.
80.-Proofs, or corrected proofs, with or without manuscript attached, may also be forwarded at Book rates, but press copies (made with the copying press) come under the heading of Commercial Papers.
81.-A Postmaster may open any book packet, and it is his duty to open a certain number by every mail. What becomes of books into which presents, &c., have been inserted may be learnt from paragraph 95. The packet must be open at the ends, and the contents visible, or easily to be rendered visible.
82.-It is absolutely necessary that the wrappers of books sent through the post be stout and well fastened, otherwise the books will probably never reach the addressees. No hand- somely bound book should be sent through the post, (unless its being spoiled is of no consequence) except protected by stout wooden boards, larger than the book itself, and firmly tied with strong string. Books to the value of $1 and upwards, when addressed to the United States, are gene- rally liable to Customs duties.
83.-There is no such thing as Parcel Post to Eurore, &c. Much trouble and disappointment are caused by persistent attempts to send small valuable trifles through the post otherwise than in Letters. Fans, curios, articles of dress, fancy work, and similar presents are continually being re- fused, the senders having often spent more in postage than would have paid the freight by steamer. Letters containing presents should always be registered. Presents weighing over 7 or 8 ounces are best sent through a parcel agency . No refund can be made on such parcels of the value of stamps obliterated before the nature of the contents was discovered (see also paragraph 4). As to Local Parcel Post see paragraph 101 to 103.
* But not warrant officers, viz., assistant engineer, gunner, boatswain, or carpenter. + Local Post Cards have not yet been received from home. Nov. 27th, 1879.
‡ A parcel agency is conducted by Messrs. Lane, Crawford & Co, Hongkong and Shanghai.
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