Directory_and_Chronicle_1899 — Page 38

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HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE

RE-DIRECTION.

69.-Letters, &c., redirected after delivery, must be re-posted not later than the day (Sundays and public holidays not being counted) after delivery, otherwise they will be charged as freshly posted letters or packets, and the same course will be followed in the case of any letters, &c., which may appear to have been opened or tampered with.

NEWSPAPERS.

70.-A newspaper is a printed paper containing news, It must not exceed two 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.

71.-A bundle of newspapers may be prepaid at so much each (and each one must count, however small), or the whole may be paid at book rate.

72.-Two newspapers must not be folded together as one, nor must anything whatever be inserted except bond fide supplements of the same paper and same date. Printed matter may, however, be enclosed if the whole be paid åt book rate.

73.-A newspaper must be open at the ends. If it contain any written communica- tion whatever it will be charged as a letter. It should be folded with the title outwards Books.

74.-Books are charged at so much per two ounces The Union rate is 2 cents. 75.-The term "books "includes almost all kinds of printed or written matter not of the nature of an actual or personal correspondence, 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 sent at letter rates.

76.--A book may contain an inscription presenting it, notes or marks referring to the text, or such writing as With the author's compliments, &c.; compliments not exceeding five words may be written on visiting cards in travellers' announcements the place of the intended visit, as well as the date and the traveller's name, may be indicated in writing; Christmas and New Year cards may bear a written dedication titles of books may be written in forms of subscription to libraries, as well as in orders to booksellers; and on newspaper cuttings the addition in manuscript or by a mechanical process, of the title, date, number and address of the publication from which the article is extracted is permitted

77.-Mechanical reproductions (not less than twenty) of a manuscript or type- written original may pass as printed papers, if handed in at the Post Office window.

78.-Albums containing photographs may pass as printed papers.

79.—The packet must be open at the ends, and the contents visible, or easily to be rendered visible. Packets which are sealed or forwarded in closed covers with the corners cut off or with notched ends, are returned to the senders. Packets may be tied with string to protect the contents, but in such a way that the string can be easily untied. (See also par. 86)

80.-The weight of a book packet is limited as follows :-

To British Offices 5 lbs.

To other Offices 4 lbs.

81.-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.

COMMERCIAL PAPERS.

82. 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.

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83.-Commercial Papers are such papers as

papers as the following:-printers' copy; authors' manuscript; 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 10 cents. Stamps of any kind, whether obliterated or not, or any papers representing monetary value, such as coupons, drafts, lottery tickets, &c., must be fent at letter rates.

84.-Any one Commercial Paper in a Book Packet exposes the whole packet to hove rule as to minimum charge. With this exception all kinds of Printed give and Patterns may be enclosed in one packet and forwarded at Book

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