HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE
xxvii
19. When two or more contract packets are leaving at the same hour the mails are closed a quarter of an hour earlier than usual.
20.-Mails by American, Canadian, Indian or Australian packets and by private steamers for Coast and other Ports are closed one hour before the advertised time of departure, except when such steamers leave at daylight, when such mails are closed the evening previous at 5 p.m. When private steamers leave at noon of the days of departure of Contract Packets mails by such steamers are closed at 10 a.m.
21.-The mails for Shanghai, &c., by English and French Contract Packets from Europe are closed one hour before time of departure, as for example:-
If leaving at 5 p.m.
Registration closes at
Letters and Papers
Registration with Late Fee
Late Letters, &c.
..3 p.m. .3.30 p.m.
.3.45 p.m.
..3.40 p.m. to 4 p.m.
If leaving at night or at daylight the following day:—
Registration closes at
Registration with Late Fee Letters and Papers
Late Letters with Late Fee
.4.30 p.m.
.4.45 p.m.
..4.30 p.m.
..4.40 p.m. to 5 p.m.
22.-All ordinary correspondence is sent on by the best opportunity of which the prepayment admits, unless especially directed or apparently prepaid for some other
route.
23.-Correspondence specially directed for any particular steamer is sent by her (failing any request to the contrary), however many times her departure may be postponed. If it is postponed sine die the correspondence is sent on by the next opportunity.
24.-Correspondence from the Coast marked vid Brindisi or viá Marseilles will be KEPT FOR THE ROUTE INDICATED even though that may involve a fortnight's detention. Unless this is intended, therefore, the safest direction is "By first mail."
25. It is sometimes possible to overtake the French packet at Singapore by means of a direct private steamer. When this can be done Coast correspondence which has been received at the General Post Office "Too Late" will be sent on.
26.-Mails may also be forwarded to London and ports of call by the tea steamers leaving China, either direct, or to catch the next contract mail at Singapore or Suez. Except by special request, only letters are sent in these mails.
27.-There are two routes to Australia, viz., vid Torres Straits and vid Colombo. For Eastern Australia as far as Sydney, for New Zealand, Tasmania and Fiji the former route is the best and for Western and Southern Australia the latter route is the best. All correspondence for these places is thus sent unless otherwise directed.
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LOCAL POSTAGE RATES.
28. The terms "Local" used in these rules shall mean and include all correspond- ence posted in Hongkong and the adjacent territories belonging to Hongkong, as well as extending to the following places in China at which there are British Postal Agencies, viz., Hoihow, Canton, Swatow, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, Shanghai, Hankow and Liu Kung Tau.
It shall also be taken to include and apply to correspondence sent to the Imperial Chinese Post Offices in China, to the Portuguese possession of Macao and to Kiaochow.
LETTERS.
Not exceeding oz.
29.-In Hongkong and its dependencies and from Hongkong in weight, 2 cents. and its dependencies to Canton or Macao.
For every addi- tional oz., 2 cents.
To all other places mentioned in paragraph 28, 5 cents. per oz. 30.-A letter posted unpaid is chargeable on delivery with double postage; if insufficiently paid with double the deficiency.
31.-No letter may exceed 2 feet in length, 1 foot in width or 1 foot in depth, unless it be sent to or from a Government Office.
32.--No letter is entitled to pass without prepayment of postage unless it is sent exclusively upon public business. Letters upon public business must be franked by the official sending them, with his name and office on the lower left-hand corner of the cover.
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