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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 16TH DECEMBER, 1876.
Orders to be XI. The Governor shall publish every such order by Pro- published by clamation in the Gazette; and every order, when so published, shall Proclamation. have the same effect as if it had been inserted in this Ordinance. [Ibid.]
The Governor may make regulations. [Ibid.]
Decision as to newspapers, packets, &c.
Paid corres-
delivered or
XII. The Governor may, subject to such instructions as aforesaid, from time to time, make, alter, and repeal, in relation to correspondence sent by post, such regulations as he thinks fit for regulating the times and modes of posting and delivery, prepay- ment, late fees, fines on unpaid correspondence, the registry of correspondence, money orders, the sale and affixing of postage. stamps, the dimensions, weight, and contenteackets, and other such similar regulations as the Governor, foto time, thinks necessary for the better execution of this Ordnance.
All such regulations as affect the public shall be published in the Gazette, and shall have no aat until so published.
XIII. If a question arises whetheny article of correspondence is a letter, or whether any publication is a newspaper or a supple- ment, or whether any packet is a book packet or pattern or sample packet, within the meaning of this Ordinance, or of any order in Council, or regulations made thereunder, the decision thereon of the Postmaster General shall be final, save that the Governor may, if he thinks fit, on the application of any person interested, reverse or modify the decision, and order accordingly.
XIV. All correspondence which arrives in this Colony fully pondence to be paid according to the rates in force for the time being shall be transmitted delivered or transmitted from the Post Office without delay and without delay. Without further charge.
[Ibid, sec. 9.]
Seamen's and Soldiers' letters.
[Ibid, sec.13.]
Dies, &c. for postage stamps. [Ibid, sec.22.]
Opening let-
ters.
[Ibid, sec.19.] Unpaid letters.
Dead letters.
Postage may
packets not
in mistake.
All correspondence which is delivered to the Post Office with the proper postage paid thereon, shall be transmitted from the Post Office without delay.
XV. All letters received or sent by sailors or soldiers of Her Majesty's sea or land forces shall be charged with such reduction in the rates of postage, as is allowed to them by any Act of the Imperial Parliament.
XVI. The Governor may, from time to provide proper postage stamps and proper dies and other implements for denoting, by adhesive stamps or otherwise, the rates of postage payable under this Ordinance, or any regulation thereunder.
XVII. The Postmaster General may, if necessary, open and, if possible, return to the sender:-
(1) Any correspondence upon which the prepayment of pos- tage is compulsory, and which cannot be sent unpaid by any other route, and upon which the proper postage has not been paid; (2) Any correspondence which is returned to the General Post Office for want of a proper address, or from inability to find the person to whom it is addressed, and which remains unclaimed for ten days after being advertised in the Gazette.
XVIII. When any packet is delivered to the Post Office and be remitted on has thereby become liable to postage, and evidence is adduced to containing the satisfaction of the Postmaster General that such packet has letters, if sent been delivered to the Post Office by mistake, the Postmaster Ge- neral may cause such packet to be opened in the presence of an [Ibid, sec.21.] officer of the Post Office, and may return the same without charge to the person interested; unless such packet is found to contein any letter or manuscript liable to postage; in which case the Postmaster General shall retain the packet until he is paid the full rate of postage chargeable upon such letter or manuscript.
Warrants for
XIX. After any correspondence has been delivered to the opening or
Post Office, no person employed by or under the Post Office shall, returning cor- respondence. except in the cases above mentioned, open the same, or return the [Ibid, sec. 20.] same to any person, or procure or suffer the same to be opened or returned, unless he is authorised by express warrant in writing under the hand of the Governor, or the British Consul at the port. The Governor, or the British Consul at the port, may, at his discretion, grant such warrants for opening or returning any specified letter or other article of correspondence.
Delivery of mails.
Despatch and Receipt of Mails. -
XX. Every master of a vessel, shall, immediately on arrival, and before reporting at the Harbour Office, deliver to the Post [Ibid, sec. 14.] Office all letter bags and correspondence on board, except such as are exempt by law, and shall make the declaration contained in the schedule C hereto annexed, before an officer of the Post Office. XXI. The Postmaster General shall pay to every master of a masters of ves- vessel, not being a contract packet, a gratuity of two cents for [ Ibid, sec. 12.] every letter, and one cent for every other article of correspondence delivered by him to the Post Office: Provided always that no gratuity shall be payable,—
Gratuities to
sels inwards.
(1.) For a second transmission of any correspondence; (2.) On correspondence delivered to any Post Office to be
thence transmitted by contract packet;
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