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HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE
23. Correspondence from the Coast marked via 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."
24.-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.
25.-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.
26.--There are two routes to Australia, viz., viá Torres Straits and wid 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 hest. All correspondence for these places is thus sent unless otherwise directed.
LOCAL POSTage Rates.
27. The term "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, Liu Kung Tau, and Chefoo.
It shall not, however, be taken to include and apply to correspondence sent to the Imperial Chinese Post Offices in China, to the Portuguese possession of Macao or to the German possession at Kiaochow.
LETTERS.
28.-In Hongkong and its dependencies and from Hongkong
and its dependencies to Canton or Macao.
(Not exceeding § oz.
in weight, 2 cents. For every addi- tional oz., 2 cents.
For Chinese Postal Hong packets the rate is 4 cents per oz. To all other places mentioned in paragraph 28, 4 cents. per oz. 29.-A letter posted unpaid is chargeable on delivery with double postage; if insufficiently paid, with double the deficiency.
30.-No letter may exceed 2 feet in length, 1 foot in width or 1 fcot in depth, unless it be sent to or from a Government Office.
31.-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.
Address to be complete.
32.-Addresses should be as complete as possible in order to facilitate delivery. 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 Letters; Loose Letters.
33. 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.
34.-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.
35. 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.
36. As a general rule Late Letters are received up to the times indicated in para- graphs 18 and 21 on prepayment of same in stamps of a Late Fee of 10 cents and are forwarded by the mail then preparing to be despatched.
PRINTED MATTER-NEWSPAPERS.
37. The Prepaid rate is as follows:-
Every registered newspaper posted singly and not exceeding
4 ozs. in weight
For each additional 4 ozs..
2 cents. 2 cents.
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