Directory_and_Chronicle_1881 — Page 508

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494

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.

The same applies to envelopes with small portions of the ends or corners cut open. These are generally cut wholly open by the examining officers, and the contents are, in consequence, in some danger of falling out. (See also paragraph 97).

100.-During the last few hours of closing the mails for Europe, large masses of circulars should not be posted for other steamers. Circulars and Prices Current should not be sent to the Post Office mixed up with letters or newspapers, but in bundles, with the addresses all one way.

Local Parcel Post.

101.-Small Parcels may be sent by Post between any of the British Post Offices in Hong- kong, China, or Japan, as well as to Macao, Pakhoi. Siam, Singapore, Penang, and Malacca. They must not exceed the following dimensions: 2 feet long, 1 foot broad, 1 fost deep, nor weigh more than 5lbs. The postage is 20 cents per lb, which includes Registration, except to Japan, to which country parcels are forwarded at Book rates, registration being optional. The parcels may be wholly closed if they bear this special endorsement, Parcel, containing no letter, but any parcel may be opened by direction of the Postmaster General.

102.-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. There is no objection to parcels containing jewellery.

103.-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 transmission, and of delaying delivery in ase 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.

Requests for Redirection.

104.-Requests for the redirection of correspondence, or to have it stopped in Hongkong, should be in writing. The precise address of the correspondence must be given. It is useless to give such vague addresses as letters addressed to me at Hongkong or elsewhere." Requests should also state whether private letters or those for the writer's firm are required, and to how many mails the request applies.

105. The business of the Post Office is to deliver correspondence as directed. All detentions and diversions of it, therefore, must be looked upon as matters of favour, to be granted when the business of the department allows of it, and when there has been time to communicate with the marine officer, &c. Telegrams must be paid for by applicants. Requests of a com- plicated nature cannot be entertained. Correspondence directed to care of boxholders in Hong- kong must, without exception, be delivered as addressed (see paragraph 147). Every request is understood to refer to letters only; papers will not be intercepted unless special reasons for such a request be shewn to the satisfaction of the Postmaster General. There is no charge for re- direction of paid Union correspondence* to Union Countries. The marine officers are not allowed to deliver correspondence at Singapore. Letters for a firm will not be intercepted without the written authority of that firm. Intercepted correspondence can never be delivered until at least two hours after the local delivery. As a general rule, whatever can be done by a friend outside will not be done in the Post Office.

106.-No request is acted on for more than three months, at the end of which time the correspondence resumes its usual course.

107. Persons visiting Hongkong, Shanghai, &c., for a few weeks, and intercepting their correspondence there, should, before leaving, ancel their request, or it will continue in force, thus subjecting the correspondence to delay.

Postage Stamps.

108.-Hongkong Postage Stamps of the following values can be purchased and are available at any British Post Office or Agency in Hongkong or China :-

2 cents, or 1d.

4

29

"

5

15

2d. 21d.

10

5d.

J1

30 cents, or 1/3.

48

35

33

32

2/0. 4/0.

-

3 Dollars, or 12,6. Post Cards—

96 cents,

2 Dollars, 8/4.

دو

1 cent.

3 cents.

109.-These Stamps are not available at British offices out of Hongkong or China. 110.-British Postage Stamps are not sold at the offices named above, nor are they available except for the correspondence of officers and seamen of Her Majesty's fleet.

111.-Postage must be prepaid in Stamps, not in money. The Stamps must be whole, clean, and placed on the address side of the letter. No refund will be made of any extra charge resulting from stamps placed on the seal side being overlooked. Stamps should be carefully affixed so as not to fall off, as they sometimes do.

112.-Postmasters and Agents are allowed (but not required) to purchase Hongkong Postage Stamps from foreign residents,

* 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 from Amoy to Hongkong, paid 5 cents only, and redirected to Paris, would be liable to a further charge.

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