Directory_and_Chronicle_1884 — Page 336

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.

643

138.-Every slipmaster who delivers correspondence at a Briti S Post Office in Hongkong or China is entitled to receive two cents for every letter, and one cent for every other article of ⚫orrespondence delivered by him, whether loose or in the mai!. As a general rule, these suina are paid in Hongkong. No more than two years' urrers can be paid.

139.—The co-operation of the public is requested in the following particulars :-

1

:

(a.) Distribute yourcorrespondence as evenly as possible between the two mails (English and Frencli). The practice of posting by the English mail only perpetuates in- conveniences to the public which might otherwise be got rid of.

(b.) -Post all correspondence n- curly as possible; and if there is much of it, do not keep all for the last moment, but send off as much us can be got ready, and keep back only what must be kept back.

(c.) Do not attempt, when one contract mail is closing, to post or register correspondence

for the next (see paragraphs 43 and 56).

(d.) Send circulars, lowspapers, or prices enrrent, to the post with the addresses all one way, right way up, and as far as possible divided into lots for the different routes, i.e., all those for the United Kingdom together, for the Continent, for Ports of call, &c. Do not mix up letters and printed matter in one confused mass, (e.) Do not post munases of circulars, for different steamers, all mixed up together. () Do not put off the purchase of stamps till mail day. As a general rule, they might

just as well be purchased some days before.

(9.) Do not send coolies with money at the last moment, expecting the Post Office to see that they stamp correspondence properly, and to return a metuo, of the change. 140. It must be remembered that continual attention is paid in the Post Office to extending the facilities accorded to all. But if individuals decline to exercise the small amount of con- sideration required to comply with the above suggestions, uot only is the extension of existing facilities rendered impossible, but even tho question is raised whether it is practicable to continue them as they are.

141.-When correspon lence is missing, time may be saved by at once sending information to the Postmaster-General, Hongkong, in the following form, or as near it as possible. If full information be not given, enquiries cannot be made.

Description Containing

Ad Ireased

Posted at

Sonder's Name and Address.

EXAMPLE.

1 ordinary letler,

Bill of Exchange for £115.

Messrs. Suddler und Thompson, 75, Great Tower Street, London, E.C. Foochow, on the 5th August, 1875, to go viâ Brindisi. William Green, Foochow

142-Any complaint as to overcharge, delay, missending, &c., must be accompanied by the cover of the correspondence.

(b.) When correspondence has been missent or delayed (both of which are liable to happen occasionally) all that the complainant need do is to write on the cover, Sent

or Delivered at

or Not received till the —th instant, or as the case may

to

be, and forward it, without any nole or letter whatever, to the Postmaster General Attention to this would save much writing and needless trouble.

(c.) Open a cover as to which you intend to complain by cutting along the top rather

than by tearing it at random.

(d.) The public would do woll to bear in mind that Overland Envelopes become quite rotten after about two years in this climate, and not infrequently fall to pieces in transit, thus loading to complaints that the letters have been opened.

Private Bozes.

143.-Private Boxes may be rented in the offices at Hongkong and Shanghai. The fee is $10 a year payable in advance. This is a Government fee, and does not, as commonly supposed, go to the Postmasters.

144. Each boxholder is supplied with an account book free, but must himself provide at least two stout bags (Shanghai firms require four) marked with his name in English and Chinese on both sides. Chinese Nankin makes the best bags for this purpose. They should be without strings, but have a couple of iron rings at the month for suspending. Boxholders should insist on their coolies returning these bags to the Post Office as soon as emplied, or at any rate not later than next morning. The only safe way to empty a bag is to turn it inside out.

145.-Ench boxholder's coolie must be provided with a stout ticket or badge of wood, metal, or pasteboard. bearing his employer's name in English and Chin.ce. This will enable him to obtain letters whenever a mail arrives

146.—The advantages of renting a box are many. It secures a quicker and more accurate delivery of correspondence. Unpaid letters are delivered to hoxholders without the delay of demanding payment, change, &c., as they are charged to his account. The boxhoklers of Hong- kong and Shanghai sond bags down in the mail steamer to be filled by the marine oflicer. Box- * Or Registered as the case any he. Or 1 Newspaper, Book-packét, or Pattern "arket, according to the nature of the correspondence missing,

644

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE..

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helters are allowed to post their letters in Beuled covers or hotes, and to mark their Postage Stamps (see paragraph 116). They receive free copies of all notices issued by the Post Office, tables of rates, &c. Many inconveniences are saved to them by the facility for charging their accounts with small deficiencies of postage, when there is no time to return a short-paid letter. This, however, is only doue as an exception, when the letter cannot go on unpaid, no boxholder being allowed to make a practice of sending short-paid correspondence, or letters to be stamped (see paragraph 117). Boxholders are also allowed certain įrivileges as to posting local corres-

1596). pondence unstamped (see parag:

147.—As a general rule, requests to keep the letters of one individual out of the box of the firm to which he belongs or belonged cannot he complied with so long as his letters are directed to that firm. Otherwise the whole corres¡ ondence of that firm would be subject to delay. The same rule applies to complimentary boxes, which are set apart to facilitate the delivery of letters to a whole set of addressees, whose correspondence should not be delayed for the convenience of one person.

148.-Borholders' books are sent out for settlement on the first day of cach month, and should be returned promptly. In case of any book not being returned within seven days, the boxholder is liable to be supplied and charged with a new one, the old one being destroyed on its return. As a general rule no information can be given as to the correspondence charged in theso Accounts, where it came from, &c. There is only one way to obtain such information, and that is to file the covers of all unpaid correspondence received. Entries On Board are for unpaid cor- respondence dealt with by the Marine Officer on his way up from Singapore.

149.—A box cannot be jointly rented by two or more persons or firus.

Hongkong Office.

150. The Hongkong Office is open from 7 A.M. till 5 P.M. on week days,

(b.) Mails arriving are distributed up to 9 p.3. (Sundays, 6 P.M.), or in the case of the Contract Mails outwards, generally at any hour of the day or night, but if there be no steamers leaving early, the delivery of a Contract Mail may be postponed till daylight.

(c.) The hour at which delivery of a Contract Mail was begun is notified in the publis papers us a check upon servants. Those who are at the windows when they are opened are always served within ten minutes at most.

(d.) Short paid correspondence arrivi g by the French Mail is not dealt with till the general sorting is over. Prices current and Trade circulars arriving by that mail in considerable numbers are also allowed to stand over until the more important work of the mail is finished.

(e.) The Money Order Office is open from 10 to 4, or 10 to 5 on French mail days. It

closes at 1 on Saturdays unless the Mail for Europe be leaving on Monday, 151.-The Office is closed on Sundays and Public Holidays, unless there are steamers leaving, when mails are made up from 8 to 9 A.. Should any one of the outward Contract Mails arrive on Sunday, or in the night, the office is kept open only long enough to get the necessary work done (from one to two hours) and is then closed, all the correspondence being sout out either at once, or the first thing next morning as the case may be.

152.—The following are the hours for clos.ng the Contract Mails to Europe, &c.;—

ENGLISH MAIL.

Day of Departure-

NOON.-Money Order Office closes.

2 P.M.-Registry of Letters ceases. Posting of all printed matter and patterns coases.

3 P.M.-Mails closed, except for Late Lettera.

3.10 P.M.-Lette: 8 may be posted with late fee of 10 cents until

3.30 P.M.—when the Post Office closes entirely.

8.40 F.M.-Late Letters may be posted on board the packet with late fee of 10 cents until

time of departure.

Day before departure-

FRENCH MAIL.

6 P.M.-Money Order Office closes. Post Office closes, except the nightbox, which is

always open out of office hours.

Day of Departure—

7 A.M.-Post Office opens.

10 A.-Registry of Letters censes. Posting of all printed matter and patterns ceases. 11 A.M.-Mails clol, except for Late Letters.

11.10 A.M.-Letters may be posted with late fee of 10 cents until

(11.30 .M.—when the Post Office closes entirely.

11.10 A.M.—Late Letters may be posted on board the packet with late fee of 10 cents antil time of departure. If insufliciently paid, or without Lato Feo, they will not be forwarded, but will be returned from Saigon.