Directory_and_Chronicle_1908 — Page 523

4:0

J

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE

91. The sender of any registered article may obtain an acknowledgment of its delivery to the addressee by paying in advance at the time of posting a fee of 10 cents in addition to the postage and registration fee. The sender must enter in the form provided for the purpose both his own name and address and the name and address of the person to whom the packet is sent, and he must also affix to the form a stamp or stamps of the value of 10 cents in payment of the fee.

92.-Letters are accepted for registration at the General Post Office, at the Kowloon and Western branch offices, as well as the Postal agencies.

93. Every article to be registered must be given to an officer or agent of the Post Office and a receipt obtained for it. It should bear the name and address of the sender on the lower left-hand corner of the face of the cover.

If contrary to this rule an article bearing the word "Registered" or any other word, phrase, or mark to the like effect, be dropped into a letter box it will if directed to any place at which delivery can be made by Hongkong or its Agencies be com- pulsorily registered and charged on delivery with a registration fee of 20 cents.

94.-All registered letters or packets on being redirected must be taken back to the Registration Department to be dealt with as registered, and must not be dropped into a letter-box as ordinary letters or packets. If brought later than the day (Sundays and public holidays not being counted) after delivery, a fresh registration fee as well as fresh postage will be required.

95.-The Postmaster-General is not legally responsible for the safe delivery of registered correspondence, but will be prepared to make good the value of such correspondence if lost while passing through the Post, to the extent of 50 francs in certain cases, provided :—

(a) That the sender duly observed all the conditions of registration.

(6) That the correspondence was secured in a reasonably strong envelope. (c) That application was made to the Postmaster-General immediately the loss was discovered, and within a year at the most from the date of posting such correspondence.

(d) That the Postmaster-General is satisfied the loss occurred whilst the corre- spondence was in the custody of the British Postal Administration in China; that it was not caused by any fault on the part of the sender by destruction by fire, or shipwreck; nor by the dishonesty or negli gence of any person not in the employment of the Hongkong Post Office. 96.-No compensation can be paid for mere damage to fragile articles such as portraits, watches, handsomely bound books, &c., which reach their destination, although in a broken or deteriorated condition, nor on account of alleged losses of the contents of registered covers which safely reached their destinations, nor on account of any article for which the addressee has signed a receipt. No claim for compensation will be admitted if made more than a year after the article was posted.

97.—The Post Office declines all responsibility for unregistered letters containing bank notes, or jewellery, and where registration has been neglected will make no enquiries into alleged losses of such letters.

98.-A postcard enclosed in a packet of correspondence, for return to the sender by way of receipt, will not under any circumstances be admitted as evidence that any particular article reached the Post Office.

99.-Enquiry as to the disposal of a registered article will be made free of charge when the sender produces prima facie evidence that it has failed to reach the addressee. When, however, no such evidence is produced, a fee of 10 cents for an acknowledgment of delivery will be required before enquiry is instituted. No fee will be charged for enquiry when the sender has already paid for an acknowledgment of delivery.

100.-Officers employed in the Registration Department are forbidden to address registered mail matter, to enclose it in the envelope, seal it, or affix the stamps.

ARTICLES NOT ALLOWED TO BE SENT BY POST

101. The following articles cannot be sent through the post :-

(a) Samples of merchandise having a saleable value.

Samples and other articles which, from their nature, may expose the postal

officials to danger, or soil or damage the correspondence.

(c) Explosive, inflammable, or dangerous substances.

(d) Animals or insects, living or dead.*

*Live bees may be sent if enclosed in boxes so constructed as to avoid all danger and allow the contents to be ascertained.

Digitized by

oog e