Directory_and_Chronicle_1901 — Page 31

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE

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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.

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

To British offices, 5 lbs.

To other offices, 4 lbs.

53.-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.

54. 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.

55.-Commercial Papers are such 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

sent at letter rates.

56-Any one Commercial Paper in a Book Packet exposes the whole packet to the above rule as to minimum charge; with this exception all kinds of printed natter and patterns may be enclosed in one packet and forwarded at book,

rates.

57.-Commercial Papers are subjected to all the conditions of Book Post as to the ends of the packet being open, liability to examination, hours of closing, late fees, &c.

58.-Packets of commercial papers, printed papers and samples, when they do not accord with the regulations, are returned to the senders.

59.-Circulars, Dividend Warrants, Invitations, Cards, Patterns, Bills, Almanacs, &c., for addressees in Hongkong or the Ports of China only, but not for Macao or elsewhere, in batches of not less than ten of uniform size and weight (such weight not to exceed 2 ounces), may be sent through the Post Office at the rate of 1 cent each, the same being paid in cash or, in the case of boxholders, charged to the sender's account.

60.--Such covers when addressed to places other than Hongkong or China must be prepaid 2 cents each in stamps,

61. Addresses must be complete, that is to say, on such covers as are not addressed to heads of houses, the addressee's residence or place of business must be added. Incom- pletely addressed covers are returned to the sender for address.

62.-Book Packets posted from or to the Banks with the words "Pass Book" printed on the cover and open at both ends are allowed to pass as printed matter. Savings Bank Pass Books are free.

63.-The rules applicable to unpaid or insufficiently paid newspapers are equally applicable to book packets and cominercial papers.

PATTERNS.

64.-Samples of merchandise must possess no saleable value, nor bear any writing or printing on or in the packet except the name of the sender or that of his firm, the address of the addressee, a manufacturers' or trade mark, numbers, prices, and indi- cations relative to weight or size, or to the quantity to be disposed of, or such as are necessary to determine the origin and the nature of the goods.

65.-Type samples of unmanufactured tobacco are admitted by post into the United Kingdom provided that such samples are sent for trade purposes, that they do not exceed ounces in gross weight, and that they comply with the general regulations of Sample Post. Upon the delivery of such samples there is levied from the addressee a charge of 8d. for Customs duty.

Liquids.

66.—Liquids, oils and fatty substances easily liquified must be enclosed in glass bottles hermetically sealed. Each bottle must be placed in a wooden box adequately furnished with sawdust, cotton, or spongy material in sufficient quantity to absorb the liquid in case the bottle be broken, and the box itself must be enclosed in a case of metal, of wood with a screw-top, or of strong and thick leather.