400
HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.
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 corr spondence 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. Letters addressed other- wise are NOT DELIVERED in London, but are returned. 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, (see page 412) to be had at the various Post Offices and Agencies free. They may be said to include all the civilised world except the Australasian and South African groups of colonies, and a few countries in Central and South America.
15.-The general Rates of Postage† are as follow :
Letters, per joz
Post Cards, each
Books and Commercial papers, per 2 oz.
Newspapers and Prices Current, each..
Registration......
Do with return receipt
10 cents.
3
**
2
>>
2
10
16 "1
16.-But all packets of Commercial papers (Papers other than letters, any part of which is written by hand) weighing four ounces and under are charged 5 cents, which is the minimum charge for this class of correspondence.
17.-Exceptions. For Non-Union Countries see page 413. The following are the Local and Town Rates:
LETTERS
PER OZ.
POST CARDS, LACH.
BOOKS, PARCELS & PATTERNS. PER 2 OZ.
! NEWS-
PAPERS & PRICE CUR-
RENTS
REGIS- TRATION.
FACH.
cente.
conta.
cents,
cents.
cents.
General Local Rates for Hongkong. Macao, China, Japan,
Siam direct (a), Cu-hìn China, Tonquin, and the {{h} Philippines..
5
2
10
(a) Via Singapore, 10 cents. (b) Between Hongkong, Canton, and Macao, 2 cents. 18.-Official Letters may be sent unpaid to certain public offices in London, as to which further information may be had on application.
Weighing Correspondence.
19.-In weighing letters it is better to leave a little margin, or add postage for the next half-ounce, as scales are apt not to be quite exact, and if the true weight be exceeded to the smallest extent the letter is treated as short-paid.
20.-Letter scales are very apt to get out of order, and the derangement almost always leads to their allowing too much weight in leiters rather than too little. It is, however, easy both to test and to adjust them. Equal weights being placed in either scale, say half an ounce in each, the balance should be exactly even (each scale hanging free) and should turn with a bit of paper about the size of two postage stamps, otherwise it is wanting in sensibility. If not true, some of the metal should be scraped or filed from the pan on the heavier side until the balance
• 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.
† It does not follow that the Rates of Postage from any Union Country are necessarily the same as the above.
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