Directory_and_Chronicle_1916 — Page 570

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE

485

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.

That the correspondence was secured in a reasonably strong envelope. 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.

(7) That the Postmaster-General is satisfied the loss occurred whilst the corre- spondence was in the custody of the Hongkong Postal Administration; 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. 137.-No compensation can be paid for mere damage to fragile articles such as portraits, watches, handsomely-bound books, etc., 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.

138.-The above two paragraphs apply mutatis mutandis to registered articles which are lost whilst in the custody of other administrations which are parties to the Postal Union (see Appendix I).

139. 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.

140.-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.

Delivery of Registered Correspondence

141. The signature of the addressee of a registered letter is accepted by the Postmaster-General and delivery effected thereon if he is satisfied that it sufficiently establishes the addressee's identity, but any further proof of identity or guarantee such as a "chop" of a firm of standing known to the Postmaster-General and required by him shall be produced if necessary to his satisfaction,

142.-A register of signatures is kept at the General Post Office where any person may register his signature on payment of a fee of $10 per annum, when personal delivery will be made on such signature at the General Post Office.

143.--Receipts for registered letters addressed to a firm must be signed with the name of some individual for that firm, and not simply with the name of the firm itself.

Insurance

144.-Letters containing paper money, or documents, &c., on which a value has been declared, may be sent from Hongkong to any of the following places, insured to the amount of the declared value:-

Algeria.

Anuam.

Argentine Republic.

Austria-Hungary..

Azores.

Belgium.

Bosnia.

British Guiana.

British Somaliland.

British Postal Agencies in

China. Bulgaria.

Cameroons (Duala and Vic-

toria only).

Canary Islands.

Cape Verde Islands (San- tiagoand St.Vincent only). Ceylon.

* Chili.

Cochin China.

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+

Thomas, St. John and St. Croix). Denmark (including the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland). Egypt.

Falkland Islands. France.

Crete (Candia, Canea, and

Retimo). Dahomey (Agoué, Carnot- ville, Cotonou, Dogba, Great Popo, Porto Novo, Sagou, Savalou, Whydah, and Zagnanado only). Danish West Indies (St.' Gambia.

French Congo (Libreville

and Loango only). French Guiana. French Guinea. Gaboon.

* Antofogasta, Arica, Caldera, Chillan, Concepcion, Copiapó, Coquimbo, Curicó, Iquique, Linares, Pisagua, Punat Arenas, Rancagua, Santiago, San Francisco, Serena, Tacna, Talar, Talcahuana, Taltal, Valdivia and Valparaiso only.

Letters for places in the Soudan can be insured as far as Wady Halfa or Suakim only. The amount to be insured is limited to 50/

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