HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE
XXXV
return a short-paid letter. This, however, is only done as an exception, when the letter cannot go on unpaid, no boxholder being allowed to make a practice of sending short- paid correspondence or letters to be stamped. Boxholders are also allowed certain privileges as to posting local correspondence unstamped (see paragraph 12).
52-Boxholders' books are sent out for settlement on the first day of each month, and should be returned promptly. As a general rule no information can be given as to the correspondence charged in these accounts, where it came from, &c. There is only one way to obtain such information, and that is to file the covers of all unpaid corre- spondence receive. Entries On Board are for unpaid correspondence dealt with by the marine officer on his way up from Singapore.
POSTE RESTANTE.
53.--All articles superscribed “To be kept till called for," "To await arrival," or in any similar way, and also articles addressed "Post Office," are held to fall under the head Poste Restante.'
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54-Poste Restante letters, &c., can be obtained at any time during the office hours. The persons applying for them must furnish satisfactory evidence that they are parties to whom the correspondence should be delivered.
55.-Poste Restante correspondence is kept for the following periods, after which it is regarded as "Dead," and is returned to the office of origin :---
Local letters are kept for 1 month
International
31
19
2 months
Letters for steamers are kept for 3 months
sailing vessels
4
梦梦
56.-The Poste Restante is intended for the accommodation of strangers and travellers who have no permanent abole in Hongkong.
57.-When correspondence is received addressed to parties in "Hongkong,” but without a full address, it is placed in the Poste Restante if no request has been received from the addressee regarding it, or his name does not appear in the Directory.
LETTERS.— Dimensions,
58.-There is no limit to the weight of letters, but, unless to or from a Government Office, they must not exceed 2 feet in length and 1 foot in width and depth.
Address to be complete,
59.-Addresses should be as complete as possible in order to facilitate delivery, and in order that, in the event of the letter becoming from any cause undeliverable, it may be returned to the writer unopened, it is recommended that the sender's name and address be also superscribed on the cover.
Unpaid Lette, s; Loose Letters.
60. 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.
Nothing can be sent wholly unpaid except letters. The prepayment of postage on local letters is compulsory.
61.
Consignees' Letters.
-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.
62. In the event of an unpaid letter becoming a dead letter, the sender is liable, according to international rules, to pay the deficient postage and the fine.
Soldiers and Sailors' Letters.
63.-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.
64.--To other places not beyond Great Britain, such as India, Malta, &c., the postage
is 2 cents.
65.-The same privileges apply to letters addressed to the Privates and Non- commissioned Officers named above.
66.-The letters must not exceed half an ounce. No handkerchiefs, jewellery, &c., can be sent, even with the ends open.
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67.--If from a Soldier or Sailor his class and description must be stated in full the letter, the cover of which must be signed by the Commanding Officer, with namena, regiment, ship, &c., in full. If to a Soldier or Sailor, his class and description, with of regiment, ship, &c., must be stated in full.
68.-Soldiers and Sailors have no privileges with regard to books, papers,
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