HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.
This reprint supersedes all previous issues of the Postal Guide, and is the only authorised complete summary of Postal regulations. Whilst always willing to supply information in other ways, the Department declines responsibility for errors- in replies to verbal applications (especially if addressed to Chinese) or notes to sub- ordinate officers. The Chinese Shroffs at the windows are placed there to sell stamps, not to decide what is correct postage, nor to answer enquiries, for which they are not competent.
HONGKONG, January 2nd, 1888.
Dimensions. Weights. Contents. Routes and Opportunities.
Par. 1
J
.................................................. Offices. Complaints.
5 7
8--20
21-26
.Posting.
27-38
"
Registration.
33-34
"
35-40
41-45
Post Cards.
46-51
Books and Patterns
**
62-55
"
......Commercial Papers.
Unpaid Letters.
.....Soldiers' and Sailors' Letters.
CONTENTS.
Par
56- 59 60- 63
31
61 75
"
76-81
»
82 87
88-91
92-
96
"
27-102 103
**
104-113
............................................... Newspapers.
Prices Current and Circulars. Requests for Redirection. Postage Stamps. Money Orders. Postal Notes. Private Boxes.
Local delivery. .Rates of Postage. .Parcel Post.
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 followi. g places :-
Canton, Hoihow (honorary), Swatow, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, and Hankow.
2.-All complaints, 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.
3. The cover of any correspondence about which complaint is made should if possible be- forwarded with such complaint. Neglect of this generally renders enquiry impossible.
4.-When correspondence has been missent or delayed (both of which are liable to happen occasionally) all that the complainant need do is to write on the cover, Sent to.........or Delivered at........., or Not received till the ...th instant, or as the case may be, and forward it, without any note or letter whatever, to the Postmaster General, Attention to this would save much writing. and needless trouble.
Dimensions, Weights, and Contents of Correspondence.
5.-No articles of correspondence (except Maps, &c. as explained below), unless to or from s Government Office, must exceed the following measurement :-) -2 feet long, 1 foot wide, 1 foot deep. There is no limit to the weight of letters, but the weights of other articles (except official correspondence) are limited as follows:-
To British Offices. To other Offices.
5tb.... 51b...
Books or Papers........ Patterns
.4lb. ..8oz.
6.-Book Packets for non-British offices must not exceed 18 inches measurement in any one: direction, but such objects as Maps, Pictures, Plans, Photographs. &c., if made up into rolls of no great thickness and not exceeding 31 inches in length may be so forwarded to any country. Pattern Packets for non-British offices must not exceed these dimensions, 8 inches by 4 inches by 2 inches.
7.-Articles which are dangerous to the mails, or offensive or injurious to persons dealing with them, cannot be sent by Post.
Routes and Opportunities.
8.-All ordinary correspondence is sent on by the best opportunity of which the prepayment admits, unless especially directed, or apparently prepaid for some other route.
9.-Correspondence specially directed for any particular steamer is sent by her (failing any request to the contrary) however many times her departure may be postponed. If it is postpon- ed sine die, the correspondence is sent on by the next opportunity.
10.-Correspondence from the Coast marked við Brindisi or viâ Marseilles is KEPT FOR THE BOUTE INDICATED even though that may involve a fortnight's detention. Unless this is intended, therefore, the safest direction is By first mail.
11.-Letters from the Coast forwarded without prepayment are not delivered until the Hongkong Office has time to deal with them; paid covers are delivered at once. Unpaid papers- are returned to the senders.
12.-It is not necessary to pay postage on covers from the Coast containing stamped cor- respondence for the homeward mails or local delivery.