Directory_and_Chronicle_1886 — Page 1102

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HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.

44.-Soldiers' and Sailors' Letters are, however, charged as Ordinary Letters if they do not conform to the following regulations:-

1.-Not to exceed half an ounce. No double letters are allowed.

2.—If from a soldier or sailor, his class or description must be stated in full on the letter, and the commanding officer must sign his name, with name of regiment, or ship, &c., in full.

3.-If to a soldier or sailor, his class or description must be stated in full, with name of

regiment, or ship, &c., in full.

Post Cards.

45.-Two values of Post Cards are issued by the Hongkong Office, as follows:-

For local circulation, i.e., anywhere within the limits of China, Japan, Corea,} 1 cent.

Siam direct, Cochin-China, Tonquin, or the Philippines

To Union Countries generally...

3 cents. 46.-Nothing must be written or printed on the stamped side of the card but the address, and, if deed, the sender's address. Any communication whatever, whether of the nature of a letter or not, may be written or printed, or partly written and partly printed on the other side. But no card will be forwarded on which anything libellous, insulting, or indecent has been written, printed, or drawn.

47. Nothing must be attached to a Post Card, nor may it be folded, cut, or otherwise altered, If so, it will be charged as a letter. Thin paper, smaller than the card, may, however, be gummed smoothly on it.

48. In regard to hours for posting, late fees, &c., Post Cards are submitted to the same

rules as letters.

of

49.—A card of insufficient value may be fully prepaid by the addition of an adhesive stamp proper amount.

Books and Patterns.

50.-Books and patterns are charged at so much per two ounces. 'The Union rate is 2 cents. 51. 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 tickets, &c., must be son at letter rates.

52.-A ok may contain an inscription presenting it, notes or marks referring to the text, or such writing as With the author's compliments, &c.

53.-Proofs, or corrected proofs, with or without manuscript attached, may also be forwarded at Book rates, but press copies (made with the copying press) come under the heading of Letters or Commercial Papers according to the nature of the subject-matter.

54.-A Postmaster may open any book packet. The packet must be open at the ends, and the contents visible, or easily to be rendered visible. Packets which are sealed are treated as letters even though the ends may be open. Books to the value of $1 and upwards, when addressed to the United States, are generally liable to Customs duties.

55.-Pattern packets must be open at the ends. 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, quantities, and prices. For weight, dimensions, &c., see paragraph 3.

Commercial Papers.

56.-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 correspondence.

57.-Commercial Papers are such papers as the following:-printers' copy, authors' manu- script; 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 not, or any pipers representing monetary value, such as coupons, drafts, lottery tickets, &c., must be sent at letter rates.

58.-Any one Commercial Paper in a Book Packet exposes the whole packet 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.

59.--Commercial Papers are subjected to all the conditions of Book Post as to the ends of the Packet being open, liability to examination, hours of closing, late fees, &c.

Newspapers.

60.-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.

Copying from a gelatine pad is taken to be printing, but press copying is writing.