Directory_and_Chronicle_1880 — Page 499

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484

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.

West Indies.

40-The following West India Islands are included in the Postal Union :--

Antigua.

Buen Ayre.

Cuba.

Curaços.

Desirade.

Dominica.

Guadeloupe.

Isle of Pines.

Jamaica.

Les Saintes.

Marie Galante.

Martinique,

Montserrat. Nevis.

Oruba.

Porto Rico.

Saba.

St. Christopher. St. Croix.

St. Eustatius.

St. John. St. Martin. St. Thomas. Tortola.. Trinidad.

Virgin Islands.

To all other West India Islands Non-Union Rates must be paid (see Table).

41. The following West India Islands are not included in the Postal Union, and to those marked N.R. correspondence cannot be Rcgistered.

Anguilla.

Bahamas.

Barbadoes.

Barbuda.

Caymans. Grenada, &c. Grenadines.

Hayti (N.R.)

Los Siete Hermanos (N.R.) Margarita (N.R.) Redonda.

St. Bartholomew (N.E.) Posting.

St. Lucia. St. Vincent. Tobago. Tortuga (N.R.)

42.-Correspondence should be posted as early as possible, and if there is much of it, any portion which can be got ready sooner than the rest should be sent off first, so as to post at the last moment only what it is absolutely indispensable to keep open as long as possible. This is necessary, not only for the convenience of the Postal service, but for that of the public, as, if all correspondence were kept back till the last moment, the windows would have to be closed con- siderably earlier than is the case at present.

43.-Early posting should not, however, be carried so far as to throw upon the Post Office masses of correspondence for the Coast, the United States, &c., just when the heavy mails for Europe are being made up. It is not uncommon to see boxes of circulars for the Coast, &c., posted at these times, although no steamer may be leaving. It would require very little trouble and consideration to keep these back till the contract mail should have left.

44.-The same thing applies to the somewhat unreasonable partiality for the English mail exhibited by the public. The French mail being at once the quicker and cheaper opportunity, it is difficult to imagine why at least two-thirds of the correspondence forwarded should be kept back for the other, thus throwing a disproportionate amount of work on the Post Office on the very day when there is least time to do it. (See also paragraph 27).

45.-Boxholders are allowed to post their correspondence in sealed boxes, which should be closed with some recognisable seal. The safest plan is to seal on the box itself, without tape or string, the old wax being removed before more is applied. Locked boxes cannot be allowed.

46.-A receipt book should be sent with each box, but as the receiving officer cannot under- take to count the correspondence sent, he only gives a receipt for One Box. Loose receipts give much extra trouble, and are not recommended. The back leaves of the Receipt Book should be fastened down, as coolies not infrequently waste some minutes in endeavours to find the place.

47.-It is strongly recommended that chit books used for sending to the Post Office should be set apart for that special duty, and kept distinct from others used for general interchange of notes, &c. This greatly facilitates enquiry in case of correspondence being missed, delayed, &c. 48.-The Post Office will not give a receipt for the amount of Stamps put on any correspond- ence (except for purposes of account), nor undertake to see that servants affix the correct amount, nor receive unstamped correspondence in covers with the money enclosed, nor charge outward postage to any person's account, except as provided by the Local Postal Regulations, paragraph 159c. There is no objection to receipting a chit-book for the correspondence of a non-boxholder if brought to the proper window, but it is particularly requested that chit-books in cases or bags

be not sent.

49.-It is particularly requested that circulars, prices current, or newspapers be not mixed up with letters. They should be sent to the Post in bundles, the addresses all one way.

50.-Large quantities of newspapers should not be dropped through the letter slits, but passed into the office (in a box or bag) through a window or door.

51.-The Post Office undertakes no responsibility with regard to correspondence posted in the moveable boxes on board the Packets of the Shanghai and Yokohama lines. These boxes are established for public convenience, but the correspondence must be regarded as at the sender's risk until it actually reaches a Post Office.

52.-As to posting correspondence for the United States by sailing ship see paragraph 39. 53.Any article of correspondence once posted becomes the property of the addressee, and cannot be returned to the sender, nor can it be detained, without the written authority of His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong or of Her Majesty's Consul at the Port, on an application stating fully the reasons of the request.

Registration.

54.-Every description of paid correspondence may be registered, except such as is addressed to initials or fictitious names, or is not properly fastened and secured. The fee is 8 cents. No unpaid or short-paid correspondence can be registered except official letters. The sender of any

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