Directory_and_Chronicle_1893 — Page 29

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE

Mail Notices.

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32. The dates and hours of closing all mails in the General Post Office are also published twice daily, except on Sundays and Holidays, in a Special Mail Notice.

FORBIDDEN ARTICLES.

33.-The following articles cannot be sent through the post :-

(a) Samples of merchandise having a saleable value.

(b) Samples and other articles which, from their nature, may expose the postal

officials to danger, or soil or damage the correspondence.

(c) Explosive, inflammable, or dangerous substances.

(d) Animals or insects living or dead, except in the cases provided for in par. (e) Any indecent or obscene print, painting, photograph, lithograph, engrav- ing, book, or card, or any other indecent or obscene article, or any letter, newspaper, or publication, packet or card, having thereon any words, marks or designs, of an indecent, obscene, libellous or grossly offensive character. 34.-It is forbidden to insert in ordinary or registered correspondence consigned to the post:-

(a) Current coin.

(b) Articles liable to Customs duty. See Appendix.

(c) Gold or silver bullion, precious stones, jewellery, and other precious articles, but only in case their insertion or transmission is forbidden by the legislation of the countries concerned.

REQUESTS FOR REDIRECTION.

35.-Requests for the redirection of correspondence, or to have it stopped in Hong- kong, must be in writing. The precise address of the correspondence must be given.

36.-Requests should also state whether private letters or those for the writer's firm are required, and to how many mails the request applies.

37-When the correspondence is required in Hongkong an address must be given to which it may be sent. Under no circumstances will it be delivered at the Post Office windows. If the applicant persists in applying for it instead of waiting till it is sent to him, his request will be cancelled.

38-No notice can be taken of requests sent in after any mail is signalled with reference to that particular mail.

39.-Requests of a complicated nature cannot be entertained.

40.-Correspondence directed to care of boxholders in Hongkong must, without exception, be delivered as addressed.

41.-Every request is understood to refer to letters only; papers will not be intercepted unless special reasons be shewn to the satisfaction of the Postmaster- General.

42.-There is no charge for redirection of sufficiently prepaid correspondence. 43.-The marine officers are not allowed to deliver correspondence at Singapore. 44.-Letters for a firm will not be intercepted without the written authority of that firm.

45.-Correspondence from the Continent for Northern Ports by French packet cannot be intercepted, nor can that for Yokohama by any mail.

46.-No request is acted on for more than three months, at the end of which time the correspondence resumes its usual course. The period of three months allowed will give time to have correspondence directed as it is to be delivered. Should it be desired that the correspondence should resume its ordinary course earlier, it will be necessary to inform the Postmaster-General.

47.-The interception of letters is promised only when possible. Sometimes it is not possible, and the omission in any case to intercept them must not be regarded as matter for complaint.

COMPLAINTS.

48. 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.

49. 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.

50.-When correspondence has been mis-sent 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.