Directory_and_Chronicle_1884 — Page 334

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HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE,

639

81.-A Postmaster may open any book packet, and it is his duty to open a certain number by every mail, What becomes of books into which presents, &c., have been inserted may bộ learnt from paragraph 95. The packet must be open at the ends, and the contents visible, or ensily to be rendered visible. Packets which are sealed are treated as letters even though the enda may be o;»n.

82. It is absolutely necessary that the wrappers of books sent through the post be stout and well fastened, otherwise the books will probably never reach the addressees. No band- somely bound book should be sent through the post, (unless its being spoiled is of un consequence) except protected by stout wooden boar-ls, larger than the book itself, and firmly tied with strong string. Books to the value of $1 and upwards, when addressed to the United States, are gene- rally liable to Customs duties.

83.-There is no such thing as Parcel Post to Furore, &c. Trouble and disappointment are caused by attempts to send small valuable trides through the post otherwise than in Letters. Letters containing presents should always be registered. Presents weighing over 7 or 8 ounces are beat 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 Pare. 1 Post see paragraphs 101 to 103.

84.—Some difficulty is experienced in obtaining a general understanding of what is a pattern. It is a bond fide en de of goo·ls 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 gooda are, and must have no intrinsic value.

85.-Pattern pncke's must be open at the ends. As to opening them sce 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 articlɩs soo 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 pick a large number of round tins securely in the mail bags. A 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 correspon·l»nce,

of

89.-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 any documents not letters; huw papers; deeds; bills of lading; invoices; insurance papers; copied music; &c. The rate is the sune 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 papera representing monetary value, such as coupons, drafts, lottery tickets, &c., must be sent at letter rates.

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89.-Any one Commercial Paper in a Book Packet exposes the whole packet to the above rule as to winimum charge. With this exception all kinds of Printed matter and Patterns may be enclosed in one packet and forwarded at Book rates.

90.-Commercial Papers aro subjected to all the conditions of Rook Post as to the cals 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 is a printed paper containing news. It 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.

(b.) The postage of a newspaper from the United Kingdom is 1d., and if only 1d. be paid (or the weight of 4 oz. be exceeded) the paper is sent out by Private Steater, not by the Mail.

93.—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 folled together as one, nor must anything whatever be inserted except bona 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 watter 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.

p.-Scarves, gloves, presents, &c., are sometimes enclosed in newspapers. The public shcall understand that this is dishonest. When such articles are discovered in a newspaper or book, it is charged as an unpaid letter, the double postage charged on delivery often amounting to a considerable suin.

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. The

• A parcel agency is conducted by Messrs. Lane, Crawford & Co, Hongkong and Changhai.

617

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.

dircction should be written on the paper itseif, as well as on the cover, in ease of the loss of the

latter.

97.-Mach delay and trouble are caused when newspapers or circulars are posted all stuck together, on account of the careless gumming of the covers. Not only are 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 confusion.

Prices Current und Circulars.

98.—A circular is a communication of which copies are addressed, in identical terms or nearly It may be either written or printed, or partly written and artly A bundle of ao, to a number of persons, printed. A price current or circular way be paid as a newspaper or as a book. prices current or circulars may be paid as so many newspapers (each one counting) or the whole For Natal and the Cape, The Union rate of postage is 2 cents each. may be paid at book rate.

6 cents.

99.-Prices Current or Circulars forwarded in closed envelopes with the corners cut off, or with notched ends, ars chirged letter rales, as they are not really open to inspection. Nothing is so good ng a wrapper folded round and partly into the circular; it ca..not possibly sip off. (See also paragraph 97).

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

191.-Smail Parcels may be sent by Post, at Book rates, between longkong, China, or Japan, as well as to Macao, Pakhoi, Siam, the Straits Settlements, Ceylon, uni India. Tuoy must not exceed the following dimensions: 2 feet long, 1 foot broad, I folt deep, nor weigh more than 5lbs. Packets sin iller than 3 inches, by 2 inends, by 2 incnds will not be accepood, The_parecla may be wholly closed if they bear this special en torsement, Purcel, containing no leller, but any parcel may be opened by direction of the Postmaster General. Registration of parcēls for Ludia and Ceylon is compulsory.

102.-luc following cannot be transmittel: Parcels insufficiently packed or protected, or liable to be crashod (as ban lboxes, &c.), Opman, Glass, Liquid, Explosive substances, Matches, Indigo, Dyestuds, Ide, Mat, Fish, Gamo, Fruit, Vegetables, or whatever is dangerous to ths Mils, or likely to bomo offensive or injurious in transit. There is no objection to parcels containing jewellery. Declarations of contents (made out on a printed form waten is supplied gratis) will be repaired wita Parejis for India.

13.-Parels will as a general rate be to warded by Private Ship, not by Contract Mail Packet. To In lia they are forwarded by the P. & O., add In lita alui pusasis daly; 1ɔ Ceylon ̧ by P. & O. pisket only. The Post O.dics rescrves the rigin of selesing tas opportunity for* transmisiju, nal of d·laying delivery in casa tas namode of purees is sien as to retard other correspon lence. No responsibility (usyon1 $10 it Registered) 13 1000pied with regard to any parel, but the system of Registration will sezare tas soalies aguast nay bat a very remove probability of loss.

Requests for Redirection.

101-Requests for the redirection of corresponiens, or to have it stoppel in Hongkong, should be in writing. Tue precise address of the correspon lones mast ba given. It is useless to give such ragno addresses us "letters addressed to us at Hongsong or elsewhere.”

(b.) Requests should also state whether private letters or those for the writer's firm 17

required, and to how many mails the request applies.

(c.) When the correspondenes is required in Hongkong an address should be given to

which it may be seut.

Under no circumstances will it be delivered at the Post Office

win lowa.

(d.) No notice is taken of requests scut in after any Mail is signalled with reference to

that particular Mail,

105.-The business of the Post Office is to deliver correspondenca as dirvelet. All detentions and diversions of it, therefore, must be looked upwa ng masters of favoie, to ba grantad whon the business of the department allows of it, and when there has been time to communicate with the marine officer, &c.

(6.) Telegrams must be paid for by applicants.

(8.) Requests of a complicated naturo cannot be entertained.

(d) Correspondence directed to care of boxaolders in Hongkong mast, without excoption,

be delivered as addressed (490 paragrapɑ 147}.

(6.) Every request is understood to refer to letters only; pipers will not be intercepted unless special reasons for such a request be sewn to the satisfaction of tuo Posti ister

General.

(f) There is no charge for re-direction of paid Union correspondence to Union Countries, (7.) The marine officers are not allowed to deliver corresponde ics at Singapore.

Terpants means that excivigil it wealty two contriss of the Patil Uaan. Tas shova rale daze Apply to Lacul corresponds to get pay-ill be wald 44 star seat lotte fron may to longong, plats only, and directed to fanti, would ng hang to a furtase caugs.