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HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.
74.—In regard to hours for posting, late fees, &c., Post Cards are submitted to the same rules as letters.
76.—A card of insufficient value may be fully prepaid by the addition of an adhesive stamp of proper amount.
76-The officers of the Post Office have strict instructions not to repeat or talk about anything they may see on Post Cards.
Books and Patterns.
77.-Books and patterns are charged at so much per two ounces. The Union rate is 2 cents, 78.-The term books includes all kinds of printed literary matter, with whatever is necessary for its illustration or safe transmission, as maps, rollers, binding. &c., but a book must contain no communication whatever of the nature of a letter. Stamps of any kind, whether obliterated or not, or any papers representing monetary value, such as coupons, drafts, lottery ticket■, &c., must be sent at letter rateų
79.-A book may contain en inscription presenting it, notes or marks referring to the text, or such writing as With the author's compliments, &c.
80.-Proofs, or corrected proofs, with or without wanuscript attached, may also be forwarded at Book rates, but press copies (made with the copying press) come under the beading of Letters or Commercial Papers according to the nature of the subject-matter.
81.-A Postmaster may open any book parket. The packet must be open at the ends, and the contents visible, or easily to be rendered visible. Packeta which are sealed are treated sa letters even though the ends may be open.
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 addressces. No hand- son.ely bound book should be sent through the post, (nales its being spoiled is of no consequença) except protected by stout wooden boards, 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.
89.-There is no such thing as Parcel Past to Europe, &c. Trouble and disappointment are caused by attempts to send small valuable trifles through the post otherwise than in Letters. Letters containing presents should always be registered. Presents weighing over 7 or 8 ounces are best sent through a parcel agency *. No refund can bo made on aucli parcels of the value of stamps obliterated before the nature of the contenta was discovered (see also paragraph 4). As to Local Parcel Post see paragraphs 101 to 103.
84. Some difficulty is experienced in obtaining a general understanding of what is a pallern. It is a bond 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 gonda 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 bores, 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.
Commercial Papers.
87. The distinction betw. Books and Commercial Papers (papiers d'affaires) is, that whilat 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, is charged less than five cents. Stamps of any kind, whether obliterated or tot, or any papers representing monetary value, such as coupons, drafts, lottery ticketa, do..., must be sept at letter rates.
89.-Any one Commercial Paper in a Book Packet exposes the whole parket to the above rule as to minimum 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 are subjected to all the conditions of Book Poat as to the enda of the Packet being open, liability to examination, hours of closing, late fees, &c.
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 conta each.
↑ Copping from a gelatine pod is taken to be printing, but pross copying is writing,
A parcel agency la conducted by Messrs. Lake, Crawford & Co, Hongkong and Shanghai.
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