Directory_and_Chronicle_1881 — Page 507

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HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.

493

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 4). As to Local Parcel Post see paragraph 101 to 103.

84. 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.

85.-Pattern packets must be open at the ends. As to opening them see paragraph 81. 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, and prices. For a list of forbidden articles see paragraphs 4 and 5; for weight, dimensions, &c., paragraph 3.

86.-Muster tins, when sent in any number, should be flat, not round, and without sharp corners. It is impossible to pack a large number of round tins securely in the mail bags. Â very good size for Tea musters is 4 by 3 by 1 inches. The sample tins made in the United States are, however, far better than anything else for such purposes.

Commercial Papers.

87.-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.

88.-Commercial Papers are such papers as the following:-printers' copy, authors' manu- script; diaries intended for publication or circulation, but not letters in diary form; 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, will be 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.

89.-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 Patterus may be enclosed in one packet and forwarded at Book rates.

90.-Commercial Papers are subjected to all the conditions of Book Post as to the ends of the Packet being open, liability to examination, &c. But with regard to hours of closing, late fees, &c., Commercial Papers are assimilated to letters.

Newspapers.

91.-A newspaper 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.

92.—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.

93.-Two newspapers must not be folded together as one, nor must anything whatever be inseitel except bonâ fide supplements of the same paper, and same date. Printed matter may, however, be enclosed if the whole be paid at book rate.

91. A supplement must consist of matter generally similar to that of the newspaper, be published with it, and have the title and date of the paper at the top of each page.

95.--Scarves, gloves, presents, &c., are sometimes enclosed in newspapers. The public should understand that this is dishonest. When such articles are discovered in a newspaper or book, if it can be sent on unpaid it is charged as an unpaid letter (postage and fine often amount- ing to 30s. or 403.) otherwise the goods are confiscated.

96-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, and the cover should be arranged so as to slip off easily. The common practice of securing it with the stamp is open to objection. The direction should be written on the paper itself, as well as on the cover, in case of the loss of the latter.

97. Much delay and trouble are frequently caused by piles of newspapers or circulars being posted all stuck together, on account of the careless gumming of the covers. Not only is time and care required to separate them, but it generally happens that the stamps adhere to the wet gum on the back of each cover, rather than to their proper places, thus getting lost, and occasioning much confusion.

Prices Current and Circulars.

98. A price current or circular may be paid as a newspaper or as a book. 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.

99.-The plan of sending circulars, &c., in envelopes with the flaps folded inwards is open to objection and gives much trouble, as such envelopes are hardly distinguishable from letters.

* A parcel agency is conducted by Messrs. Lane, Crawford & Co, Hongkong and Shanghai.

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