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HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.
66.-Legal and commercial documents (papiers d'affaires), printers' copy, authors' manu- scripts, and diaries intended for publication or circulation are eligible for transmission as books, but not letters in diary form. Proofs or corrected proofs are also allowed and, generally, any papers not having the character of an actual and personal correspondence.
67.-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 57. The packet must be open at the ends, and the contents visible, or easily to be rendered visible.
68.-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.
69.-There is no such thing as Parcel Post to Europe, &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 39).
70.-Some difficulty is experienced in obtaining a general understanding of what is a pattern. It is a bona fide sample of goods which the sender has for sale, or of goods which he wishes to order. It is to consist of the smallest possible quantity compatible with shewing what the goods are, and must have no intrinsic value.
71.-Pattern packets must be open at the ends. As to opening them see paragraph 67. Tea, seeds, drugs, &o., may be sent in boxest, or in transparent bags. There must be no writing or printing on or in the packet except addresses, trade marks, numbers, and prices. For a list of forbidden articles see paragraph 40; for weight, dimensions, &c., paragraphs 38 and 39.
Local Parcel Post.
72.—The following are the rules as to Local Parcel Post:-
1.-Small Parcels may be sent by Post between any of the British Post Offices in China or Japan, as well as to Macao, Pakhoi, Singapore, Penang, and Malacca. They must not exceed the following dimensions, 2 feet long, 1 foot broad, 1 foct deep, nor weigh more than 5lbs. The postage will be 20 cents per lb., which will include Registration. The parcels may be wholly closed if they bear this special endorse- ment, Parcel, containing no letter, but any parcel may be opened by direction of the Postmaster General.
2.-The following cannot be transmitted: Parcels insufficiently packed or protected, or liable to be crushed (as bandboxes, &c.) Glass, Liquids, Explosive substances, Matches, Indigo, Dyestuffs, Ice, Meat, Fish, Game, Fruit, Vegetables, or whatever is dangerous to the Mails, or likely to become offensive or injurious in transit. 3.-Parcels will as a general rule be forwarded by Private Ship, not by Contract Mail Packet. The Post Office reserves the right of selecting the opportunity for trans- mission, and of delaying delivery in case the number of parcels is such as to retard other correspondence. No responsibility is accepted with regard to any parcel. but the system of Registration will secure the senders against any but a very remote probability of loss.
Money Orders.
73.-Money Orders on the United Kingdom are issued at Hongkong and Shanghai Shanghai, Yokohama, and the Straits Settlements also issue local orders on Hongkong, and vice
versa.
74.-Small sums may be rewitted between the other ports by means of Postage Stamps. (See paragraphs 7-10).
An
75. Many money orders are supplied to residents at the smaller ports in this way. application for an order ‡ is filled up, and is enclosed with a stamped, directed, and unsealed envelope to the Postmaster 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. 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.
A Parcel Agency is conducted by Messrs. Lane, Crawford & Co.
† These boxes should be flat, not round, and without sharp corners. 4 in. by 3 in, by 13 in. is a good sise for Tea musters.
‡ Made out on a printed form which is supplied gratis.
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