Directory_and_Chronicle_1921 — Page 477

HONGKONG POSTAL GUIDE

423

(see para. 193 (d.)) which was given to him when he handed in the parcel. The Certificate must be given to the Postmaster when the Order is paid.

198.--Parcels on which Trade Charges are to be collected will, in other respects than those above specified, be treated like other parcels as regards registration, insurance and compensation.

199.-When a Trade Charge has been collected, the Post Office undertakes respon- sibility for the due remittance of the amount to the sender of the parcel.

MONEY ORDERS AND POSTAL ORDERS

Local Money Orders

200. Single Money Orders are issued at the General Post Office (first floor), Hong- kong, and at the British Post Office Agency, Shanghai, at the current rates of exchange for any sum not exceeding $400. Orders on India only are issued at the Kowloon branch. 201.-Money Orders are paid at the above-named offices and at the several British Post Office Agencies in China.

202.-Applications for Money Orders must be made on the printed forms provided for the purpose at the Money Order Offices. The full name and address of both appli- cant and payee should always be given.

203.-Parties procuring Money Orders should examine them carefully to see that they are properly filled up and date-stamped.

204. When a Money Order is presented for payment at the office upon which it is drawn, the Postmaster will use all proper means to assure himself that the applicant is the person named and intended in the advice, and upon payment of the Order care must be taken to obtain the signature of the payee or of the person authorised by him to receive payment to the receipt on the face of the Order.

205. When a Money Order has been lost by either remitter or payee a duplicate thereof will be issued by the paying office on payment of a second commission; and when a remitter desires to correct any error in an order obtained by him such correc- tion may be made on payment of a second commission. Application for either of the above purposes should be made in writing to the Postmaster-General.

206.--The remitter of a local order may request at the time of issue or subsequently that the order be crossed like a cheque, thus "= & Co.," in order that it may be paid only through a bank.

207.-If the payee is unable to write he must sign the receipt by making his mark, to be witnessed in writing by someone known to the Postmaster but unconnected with the Post Office. The witness should sign his name with his address in the presence of the Postmaster, and the latter will then certify the payment by adding his own initials. In no case should the Postmaster act as witness himself. It is not necessary that the witness should be personally acquainted with the payee.

208. After once paying a Money Order, by whomsoever presented, provided the required information has been given by the party who presented it, the Department will not hold itself liable to any further claim.

209.-The commission to be charged on the issue of the Money Orders payable in Hongkong and the British Post Office Agencies in China will be one cent per dollar, or fraction of a dollar, with a minimum charge of five cents.

210.- An order remaining unpaid after one year from date of issue-(e.g., issued in January, but unpaid at the end of the following January) becomes legally void and lapsed to Government and will not be paid unless satisfactory explanation as to the cause of delay in presenting it for payment can be furnished to the Postmaster-General, who alone can authorise such payment. Repayment of such orders as have already been paid into the Treasury as void may be authorised by the Governor under such conditions as he may see fit to impose.

Foreign Money Orders

211. When applying for Money Orders payable abroad the public should use the special Requisition Forms, which are supplied gratuitously at the General Post Office, Hongkong.

212. The applicant must furnish, in full, the surname and, at least, the initial of one Christian name both of the remitter and the payee, and the remitter's address. In the case of orders through the United Kingdom the fuil address of the payee must be