Directory_and_Chronicle_1887 — Page 1121

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE.

This reprint supersedes all previous issues of the Postal Guide, and is the only authorised complete summary of Postal regulations.

regulations. Whilst always willing to supply information in other ways, the Department declines responsibility for errors in replies to verbal applications (especially if addressed to Chinese) or notes to sub- ordinate officers. The Chinese Shroff's at the windows are placed there to sell stamps, not to decide what is correct postage, nor to answer enquiries, for which they are not /competent.

HONGKONG, January 1st, 1887.

Par. 1 4

5 6

►

7-

8-19

"

"}

20-25

**

24-30

**

32-33

$139

נו

40-11

2

40-50

EX

51- -54

.Addresses in London.

CONTENTS.

...Offices. Complaints.

..Dimensions. Weights. Contents.

Par 55 68

59- 62--- 73

61

Routes and Opportunities.

71-79

.Posting.

80-85

"}

Registration,

86- 69

"

Unpaid Letters.

90-94

>

„Soldiers' and Sailors' Letters.

95--100

.Post Cards.

101

.....Books and Patterns

102–113

"

.....Commercial Papers.

Newspapers.

.....Prices Current and Circulars. .Requests for Redirection. Postage Stamps. Money Orders,

Postal Notes.

Private Boxes.

Local delivery. ..Rates of Postage. .Parcel Post.

1.—The Head Office for British Postal business in China is at Hongkong; there is a Post Office also at Shanghai, and Agencies at the following places :

*

Canton, Hoihow (honorary), Swatow, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, and Hankow.

2.—All complaints, or representations of matters which cannot be adjusted locally, should be addressed to the Postmaster General, Hongkong, and, if marked On Postal Business, will be forwarded free by any Postmaster or Agent.

J

3. The cover of any correspondence about which complaint is made should if possible be forwarded with such complaint. Neglect of this generally renders enquiry impossible.

4.-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 to.........or Delivered at........., or Not received till the...th instant, or as the case may be, and forward it, without any note or letter whatever, to the Postmaster General. Attention to this would save much writing and needless trouble.

Dimensions, Weights, and Contents of Correspondence.

5.-No articles of correspondence (except Maps, &c. as explained below), unless to or from a Government Office, must exceed the following measurement -2 feet long, 1 foot wide, 1 foot deep. There is no limit to the weight of letters, but the weights of other articles (except official correspondence) are limited as follows:-

To British Offices. To other Offices.

Books or Papers...... Patterns

.4lb. ...8oz.

Book Packets for non-British offices must not exceed 18 inches measurement in any one direction, but such objects as Maps, Pictures, Plans, Photographs, &c., if made up into rolls of no great thickness and not exceeding 31 inches in length may be so forwarded to any country. Pattern Packets for non-British offices must not exceed these dimensions, 8 inches by 4 inches by 2 inches.

6.-Articles which are dangerous to the mails, or offensive or injurious to persoùs dealing with them, cannot be sent by Post.

Addresses in London.

7.—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 without street and number are NOT DELIVERED in London, but are returned.

Routes and Opportunities.

8.—All ordinary correspondence is sent on by the best opportunity of which the prepayment admits, unless especially directed, or apparently prepaid for some other route.

9.-Correspondence specially directed for any particular steamer is sent by her (failing any request to the contrary) however many times her departure may be postponed. If it is postpon- ed sine die, the correspondence is sent on by the next opportunity.

10.-Correspondence from the Coast marked via Brindisi or via Naples is KEPT FOR THE ROUTE INDICATED even though that may involve a fortnight's detention. Unless this is intended, therefore, the safest direction is By first mail.

11.-1t is not necessary to pay postage on covers from the Coast containing stamped cor- respondence for the homeward mails,

12.-It is sometimes possible to overtake the French packet at Singapore by means of a direct private steamer. When this can be done Coast correspondence which arrived too late is so sent on.