892
HONG KONG POSTAL GUIDE.
48.-A book may contain an inscription presenting it, notes or marks referring to the text, or such writing as With the author's compliments, &c.
49.-Proofs, or corrected proofs, with or without manuscript attached, may also be forwarded at Book rates, but press copies come under the heading of Letters or Commercial Papers according to the nature of the subject-matter.
50. The packet must be open at the ends, and the contents visible, or easily to be rendered visible. Packets which are sealed are treated as letters even though the ends may be open. Books to the value of $1 and upwards, when addressed to the United States, are generally liable to Customs duties.
51.-Pattern packets must be open at the ends. Tea, seeds, drugs, &c., may be sent in boxes, or in transparent bags. There must be no writing or printing on or in the packet except addresses, trade marks, numbers, quantities, and prices. For weight, dimensions, &c., see paragraph 5.
Commercial Papers.
52.-The distinction between Books and Commercial Papers (papiers d'affaires) is, that whilst Book Packets are to consist of printed matter, Commercial Papers are wholly or partly written by hand. They must not be of the nature of an actual or personal correspondence.
53.-Commercial Papers are such papers as the following:-printers' copy, authors' manu- script; press copies of any documents not letters; law papers; deeds; bills of lading; invoices; insurance papers; copied music; &c. The rate is the same as for Books, but no packet of commercial papers, whatever its weight, is charged less than five cents. 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.
E4.-Any one Commercial Paper in a Book Packet exposes the whole packet to the above rule as to minimum charge. With this exception all kinds of Printed matter and Patterns may be enclosed in one packet and forwarded at Book rates.
55.--Commercial Papers are subjected to all the conditions of Book Pust as to the ends of the Packet being open, liability to examination, hours of closing, late fees, &c.
Newspapers.
56.-A newspaper is a printed paper containing news, It 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.
57.-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.
58.-Two newspapers must not be folded together as one, nor must anything whatever be inserted except bona fide supplements of the same paper, and same date. Printed matter may, however, be enclosed if the whole be paid at book rate.
59.-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.
Prices Current and Circulars.
60.-A circular is a communication of which copies are addressed, in identical terms or nearly 80, to a number of persons. It may be either written or printed, or partly written and partly printed. A price current or circular may be paid as a newspaper or as a book.
61.-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. For Natal and the Cape, 5 cents.
62.-Prices Current or Circulars forwarded in closed envelopes with the corners cut off, or with notched ends, are charged letter rates, as they are not really open to inspection.
63.-Prices Current and Circulars arriving in such large quantities as to retard the delivery of the mails are allowed to stand over till there is time to deal with them.
Requests for Redirection.
64.-Requests for the redirection of correspondence, or to have it stopped in Hongkong, must be in writing. The precise address of the correspondence must be given.
65.-Requests should also state whether private letters or those for the writer's firm are required, and to how many mails the request applies.
66.-When the correspondence is required in Hongkong an address must be given to which it may be sent. Under no circumstances will it be delivered at the Post Office windows. If the applicant persists in applying for it instead of waiting till it is sent to him, his request will be cancelled.
67.--No notice can be taken of requests sent in after any Mail is signalled with reference to that particular Mail.
68.--Requests of a complicated nature cannot be entertained.
69.-Correspondence directed to care of boxholders in Hongkong must, without exception, be delivered as addressed.
70.-Every request is understood to refer to letters only; papers will not be intercepted unless special reasons be shewn to the satisfaction of the Postmaster General.
71.-There is no charge for re-direction of sufficiently prepaid correspondence. 72.-The marine officers are not allowed to deliver correspondence at Singapore.