Directory_and_Chronicle_1880 — Page 496

Page 496 Page 496

VUTITU

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.

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 following places :--

Canton, Hoihow (honorary), Macao (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 (see also paragraphs 141, 142). The cover of any correspondence about which complaint is made should if possible be forwarded with such com. plaint. Neglect of this generally renders enquiry impossible.

Dimensions, Weights, and Contents of Correspondence.

3. No articles of correspondence, unless to or from a 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.

Books or Papers. Patterns

5tb....

5lb..

..4tb. ..8oz.

Pattern Packets for non-British offices must not exceed these dimensions, 8 inches by 4 inches by 2 inches.

4.-No letter or packet, whether to be registered or unregistered, can be received for Postage (except by local parcel post) if it contains gold or silver money, jewels, precious articles, or anything that, as a general rule, is liable to Customs duties. This Regulation prohibits the sending of Patterns of dutiable articles, unless the quantity sent be so small as to make the sample of no value.

5.-The following articles cannot be sent by post at all: glass, liquids, gunpowder, matches. indigo, dye-stuffs, or whatever is dangerous to the mails, or offensive or injurious to persons dealing with them. Sugar, soap, and candles may be sent in flat tins, as to which see paragraph 86. How to Address Correspondence.

6. The address and the Postage stamps should always be on the same side of the corres- pondence--the side opposite to the seal or fastening. Legible handwriting is of course of great importance.

7.-A Newspaper should be addressed on the paper itself, as well as on any loose cover or wrapper in which it may be enclosed. Should the wrapper be lost, the paper can then still be

sent on.

8. Every letter, book, or pattern packet, should bear the sender's name outside as well as inside. In case of non-delivery it can then be returned without being opened.

9.-Those who provide printed envelopes for their local correspondence would do well to add the addresses in Chinese.

10.-The word London alone is not a sufficient address for a letter, however well known may be the person or firm to whom it is directed. Number and street should be added, together with the proper distinguishing letters, E.C.; W.; &c., as the case may be. Similarly, residents in China should have their correspondence directed fully. A letter directed W. Jones, Esq., Hongkong, would not improbably be put aside by the marine officer for enquiry in the Hongkong office, and thus be delayed. But if it were directed W. Jones, Esq., Messrs. B. C. & Co., Hongkong, no difficulty could arise.

11.-There is no objection to Telegraphic Code addresses if they are registered at the Post Office expected to deliver the Telegrams.

12.-Letters addressed London, To be called for, are not received at any offices but St. Martin's- le-Grand and Charing Cross, nor are they received there if directed to initials or fictitious names, or to any person except a stranger or traveller. No one is allowed habitually to receive letters through the Poste Restante in London.

Rates of Postage.

13.-There are uniform Rates of Postage to all countries of the Postal Union by whatever route, but with certain exceptions given below. No extra charges can be made on delivery. Re-directed Union Correspondence* may be re-posted without further payment.

14.-A list of the countries of the Postal Union is printed on the Table of Rates of Postage, to be had at the various Post Offices and Agencies free. They may be said to include all the

* Union Correspondence means that exchanged between any two countries of the Postal Union. The above rule does not apply to Local Correspondence the original payment on which was not sufficient for the second transit. Thus a letter trin Amoy to Hongkong, paid 4 cents only, and redirected to Paris, would be liable to a further charge.

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