xxiv
HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE
27.-Letters to be registered should be handed to the receiving officer at the proper win- dow, and a receipt obtained. The hour of registry will be marked on the receipt if specially requested. Whoever presents an article for Registry MUST ASK (orally) FOR A RECEIPT. Nothing written on the letter or elsewhere can replace this indispensable precaution.
28. The Post Office is not legally responsible for the safe delivery of Registered Correspondence, but will be prepared to make good the value of such correspondence if lost while passing through the Post, to the extent of $10, in certain cases, provided :—
(a) That the sender duly observed all the conditions of Registration.
(b) That the correspondence was securely enclosed in a reasonably strong
envelope.
(c) That application was made to the Postmaster-General of Hongkong immediately the loss was discovered, and within a year at the most from the date of posting such correspondence.
(d) That the Postmaster General is satisfied the loss occurred whilst the correspondence was in the custody of the British Postal administration in China; that it was not caused by any fault on the part of the sender; by destruction by fire, or shipwreck; nor by the dishonesty or negligence of any person not in the employment of the Hongkong Post Office.
29.-No compensation can be paid for mere damage to fragile articles such as portraits, watches, handsomely bound books, &c., which reach theirdestination, although in a broken or deteriorated condition, nor on account of alleged losses of the contents of Registered covers which safely reached their destinations, nor on account of any article for which the addressee has signed a receipt.
30.-The Post Office declines all responsibility for unregistered Letters containing bank notes, coin, or jewellery, and, where Registration has been neglected, will make no enquiries into alleged losses of such letters.
31.-A postcard enclosed in a packet of correspondence, for return to the sender by way of receipt, will not under any circumstances be admitted as evidence that any particular article reached the Post Office.
Unpaid Letters.
32. The general rule as to insufficiently paid letters is to double the deficient postage. If the despatching office has not indicated how much the deficiency is, it is taken to be 10 cents per half ounce, and the letter is consequently charged 20 cents per half ounce. Any foreign postage stamps affixed are neglected in making this charge. Hence letters sent loose on board ship are treated as wholly unpaid, however many stamps of other countries they may bear. This practice is based on international rules, and is required by Treaty. Nothing can be sent wholly unpaid except letters. The prepayment of postage on local letters is compulsory.
33.-Consignees' letters, being privileged by law, need not be sent to the Post Office at all, but if they are sent they are liable to ordinary rates of postage.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Letters.
34.-Privates in H. M. Army or Navy, Non-commissioned Officers, * Bandmasters, School-masters (not Superintending or First Class), Writers, or School-mistresses may send HALF-OUNCE letters to the United Kingdom by the English Mail at the rate of two cents each, or by the French Mail at the rate of four cents each. The postage must be prepaid in Hongkong Stamps.
35.-To other places not beyond Great Britain, such as India, Malta, &c., the postage is 2 cents.
36.-The same privileges apply to letters addressed to the Privates and Non- commissioned Officers named above.
37.-The letters must not exceed half an ounce. No handkerchiefs, jewellery, &c., can be sent, even with the ends open.
38.-If from a Soldier or Sailor his class and description must be stated in full on the letter, the cover of which must be signed by the Commanding Officer, with name of regiment, ship, &c., in full. If to a Soldier or Sailor, his class and description, with name of regiment, ship, &c., must be stated in full.
39.-Soldiers and Sailors have no privileges with regard to books, papers, or parcels.
Post Cards.
40.-Two values of Post Cards are issued, as follows:-
For local circulation, ie, anywhere within the limits of China, Japan,
Corea, Siam, Cochin-China, Tonkin, the Philippines, British North 1 cent. Borneo, or the Straits Settlements..
To Union Countries generally
But not Warrant Officers, Assistant Engineers, Gunners, Boatswains, or Carpenters.
3 cents.
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