593783-1939-Suspension-of-telegraph-and-radio-telegraph-services-throughout-the-Empire — Page 2

754

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, AUGUST 26, 1939.

or in transit through the United Kingdom, and to and from or in transit through all British possessions and all British protec- torates whatsoever, save and except such telegrams and radio- telegrams as are on the service of His Majesty's Government or of the Government of any British possession or protectorate.

With a view, however, to minimizing inconvenience to the public, His Britannic Majesty's Government will, until further notice, and as an act of grace, permit the transmission of such telegrams and radio-telegrams in plain language, as foreign Governments or the public choose to send, provided that such telegrams are written in English or French, and on the under- standing that they are accepted at the sender's risk and subject to censorship by the British Authorities; that is, that they may be stopped, delayed or otherwise dealt with in all respects at the discretion of those authorities and without notice to the senders; and that no claims in respect of them, whether for the reimbursement of the sums paid for transmission or other- wise, will be considered by His Majesty's Government in any circumstances whatever. It is, moreover, essential that such telegrams and radio-telegrams should bear the sender's name at the end of the text, otherwise they are liable to be stopped until the name is notified by paid telegram. Registered ab- breviated addresses will not be accepted either as addresses or as the names of senders.

26th August, 1939.

R. A. C. NORTH.

Colonial Secretary.

Note. The term "telegram" is applied to radio-telegraph messages sent from shore to shore, as well as to those sent by cable or land line.

The term "radio-telegram" is used to denote messages exchanged between ships and the shore.