HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.
407
117.-Postage Stamps are sold for cash only. Correspondenc will not be stamped at the Post Office and charged to a boxholder's account, except as provided by the Trl Postage regula- tions (see paragraph 1596).
118. The shroff's who sell stamps are not allowed to affix them, ev This must be done by the purchaser.
requested to do so,
119.-Specimen Stamps cannot be supplied to the public excest on receipt of their full value. A complete set of the stamps in use (sve par, 108) costs $1.99, or with the $2 and $3 stamps, $6.99. No obsolete stamps can be supplied except in sheets of 240. Several obsolete values cannot be haḍ
at all.
120. -The officers of the Post Office cannot undertake to collect obliterated Postage Stamps. 121.—All persons are recommended to keep Postage Stamps under Chubb lock and key, and in posting large quantities of correspondence to send it in a box carefully sealed (see paragraphs 45 and 46). 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. add a little fresh gum.
Money Orders.
122.-Money Orders are exchanged with the following Countries:-
India.
Japan (except at Shanghai).
New South Wales.
Port Darwin.
Queensland.
South Australia.
Straits Settlements. Tasmaria.
United Kingdom.
Western Australia.
Hongkong also issues orders on Shanghai and vice versa.
Then
123.-Smäll sums may be remitted between the other ports by means of Postage Stamps subject to a charge of one per cent. for cashing them. (See paragraj h3 112-115).
124.-Many or y orders are supplied to residents at the smaller ports in this way. An application for an inver * is filled up, and is enclosed with a stamped, directed, and unrealed envelope to the Postmuster at the nearest issuing office. The application must be accompanied with the full amount (including commission) in cheque, postage stamps, or other equivalent of cash, and a little margin should be left for variations of exchange. By far the best way is to send a round sum to cover everything. That is to say, Postage and Commission having been deducted, the Order is to be drawn for the Balance, whether more or less. The Postmaster issues the order, sends it on in the envelope, and returns the change, if any, by first opportunity, with a receipt for the letter if it were to be registered, as it always should be. Care should be taken to send these applications in time, as the money order offices close some hours before the departure of the mail. If sufficient money be not sent, the deficiency will be deducted from the amount of the order, as no order can be issued either wholly or partly on credit for anybody, however well known or trustworthy.
125.—No order must exceed £10 or $50, (unless drawn on India, when the limit is 150 Rupees) or include any fractional money. Two £10 or $50 orders is the limit of any one remit- tance. Orders will be drawn at the current rate of the day †, and paid at the rate of the day when the advice arrives. Orders from the Australian Colonies are cashed at a somewhat higher rate, depending on that obtainable on the sale of a Sterling Bill on London. The commission is as follows :
Up to £10 or $50 or 100 Rupees .80 cents Up to
150 Rupees......$1.00.
Up to £2 or $10 or 20 Rupees......20 cents. Up to £5 or $25 or 50 Rupees.. 40 cents. Up to £7 or $35 or 70 Rupees......60 cents.
126.-Lists of money order offices in the United Kingdom may be consu at Hongkong and Shanghai.
127.—Names must be given in full (except when there is more than one Cistian name), but the name of the payee need not be given if the order be crossed like a cheque. It can then be paid only through a bank, and may afterwards be specially crossed to any bank.
128.-No order can be paid till the payee has signed it in the proper place. An order cam be transferred to another office on payment of an additional commission. In case of loss of an order, necessity for stopping payment, or the like, application should be made to the nearest money order office for instructions.
129. If the order be not presented within six months an additional commission will be charged; if not within twelve months, the money will be forfeited. When the order is once paid no further claim can be entertained.
130.-No order can be paid until the advice relative to it has been received.
Miscellaneous Suggestions and Regulations.
131.—It is most desirable that every letter, book, or pattern packet should bear the sender's name and address, as well outside as inside. If every letter were marked outside with the name and address of the sender, no letter need ever be opened under any circumstances. To sign letters merely James, or Harriet, or the like, is a practice which leads to the letter being destroyed if it cannot be delivered.
* Made out on a printed form which is supplied gratis.
✦ In the case of local orders on Shanghai this is generally taken to be 2 per cent. premium. A dollar rate for drawing on the United Kingdom is in force at Shanghai,