Directory_and_Chronicle_1909 — Page 559

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE

459

47.-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 counter.

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

49. 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 will be taxed and sent forward as ordinary correspondence. Packets may be tied with string to protect the contents, but in such a way that the string can be easily untied.

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

To British offices, 5 lbs.

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To other offices, 4 lbs.

51.--Book Packets for Non-British offices must not exceed two feet in length or one foot in width or depth. Packets in the form of a roll may not exceed 30 inches in length and 4 inches in diameter, but such objects as maps, pictures, plans, photographs, &c., if made up into rolls of no great thickness and not exceeding 30 inches in length, and 4 inches in diameter, may be so forwarded to any country

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

COMMERCIAL PAPERS

53.—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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54. 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; insurances 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. &c., must be sent at letter rates.

55.-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 matter and patterns may be enclosed in one packet and forwarded at book rates.

56.-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.

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

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

PRICES CURRENT AND CIRCULARS

59.-A circular is a communication of which copies are addressed in identical terms, or nearly so, to a number of persons. It may be either written or printed, or partly written and partly printed. A price current or circular may be paid as a newspaper or as a book.

60.-Dividend Warrants, Invitations, Cards, Patterns, Bills, Almanacs, &c., are also included under the head of Circulars when intended for addressces in Hongkong or Ports of China at which British Postal Agencies are established only and when posted in batches of not less than ten of uniform size and weight (such weight not to exceed 2 ounces) and prepaid in stamps at the 1 cent rate. Such circulars should be delivered to an officer of the Post Office.

61.-Circulars when posted singly or addressed to places other than Hongkong or its Agencies must be prepaid 2 cents each in stamps.

62.-A bundle of prices current or circulars may be paid for as so many newspapers (each one counting), or the whole may be paid at book rate. The Union rate of postage is 2 cents each.

63.-Prices Current or Circulars in closed envelopes with the corners cut of, or with_notched ends, will be taxed and forwarded as ordinary correspondence.

64.-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.

65.-Prices Current and Circulars arriving in such large quantities as to retard the delivery of the mails are allowed to stand over till there is time to deal with them.