719249-1862-HONGKONG-ANNO-VICESIMO-QUINTO-VICTORIE-REGINE-NO-8-OF-1862- — Page 4

152

Fees payable on late Correspondence by English Steamers,

Late Fees payable on late Letters per all other, Steamers.

ters.

Registration of Let-

Power to open dead Letters.

Letters not to be opened or delayed,

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 10TH MAY, 1862.

tion above provided for to the Postmaster General shall, for every such Offence, forfeit a Sum not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars recoverable before a Police Magistrate, unless the Postinaster General on a Representation made to him of the circumstances of the case consent, with the sanction of His Excellency the Governor, to waive the enforcement of such Penalty.

XVI. It shall be lawful for the Postmaster General to demand and receive the extra Sums hereinafter expressed which are respectively hereby declared payable for the use of this Colony, that is to say, on all Correspondence brought to and received. at the General Post Office, for transmission to any Place out of the limits of this Colony by Contract Packets carrying the Mails for England, after the time fixed for closing Office for the general receipt of Letters for such Mail, and up to Four Hours before the actual despatch of the same Mail, a Fee of Six Pence on each Letter, and of One Penny on each Newspaper; and from the said Four Hours before the said actual despatch and up to the actual closing of the Mail at the said office, the Fee of One Shilling on each Letter, and of Two Pence on each Newspaper; and after the closing of the said Mail at the said Office the Postmaster General shall be authorized to receive on board the Packet Steamer then about to sail a Fee of One Shilling and Six Pence on each Letter, and a Fee of Three Pence on cach Newspaper; and if any Correspondence shall be posted or sent after such respective times as aforesaid without payment of such Fees respectively, it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to refuse and not to forward the same by such Mail.

XVII. The Postmaster General shall by himself or his Deputy attend on board every Steamer other than those for England then about to leave the Harbour with a Mail, and shall there receive all Correspondence which up to the Time of Departure shall be brought on board to be dispatched, and shall receive the Rates of Postage pay- able on such Correspondence, or otherwise ascertain that such Correspondence has affixed thereon Stamps to the Amount payable for transmission, and he shall also receive a late Fee of Six Pence on each Letter, and of One Penny on each Newspaper which he shall so receive. And every Master of such Steamer shall give all proper Facilities to such Post Office Officer for the discharge of his Duties and to enable him to make up such late Mails, and to leave the Steamer on her starting, under a Penalty for every Offence of a Sum not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars: Provided always, that in case after the closing of the Mails for any such Steamer as aforesaid at the Post Office, no such Post Office Officer shall be in attendance on board such Steamer, then it shall be lawful to send Correspondence and for the Master of such Steamer to take and carry all Correspondence brought on board to him free from the Provisions of this Ordinance.

XVIII. It shall be lawful for the Postmaster General to register in this Colony Correspondence posted for transmission to any Place out of the limits of this Colony in like manner and form as the same were registered by the Postmaster before the passing of this Ordinance and to demand and receive in respect of every such Letter or Book Packet so registered in this Colony the Sum of Six Pence for the use of this Colony, in addition to the Fee required for such Registration by the Imperial Postmaster General; and all Registered Correspondence, and the Registration thereof shall be subject to all such and the same Rules and Regulations as were in force respecting the same at the time of the passing of this Ordinance or as shall from time to time be hereafter enacted or provided in respect thereof by any Statute of the Imperial Parliament or by Her Majesty's Postmaster General or by His Excellency the Governor.

XIX. It shall be lawful for the Postmaster General to open any Correspondence addressed to any Person residing in any Place where the prepayment of Postage is compulsory and upon which Correspondence the proper Postage shall not have been paid, and as soon as conveniently may be to return the same to the Writer, if he be able so to do, and also after any Correspondence shall have been returned to the Post Office of this Colony for want of true Directions, and in any case where the Person or Persons to whom any Correspondence shall have been directed cannot be found, and after the same respectively shall have been advertised in the Hongkong Government Gazette, at any time after Three Days thereafter to open every such Correspondence and to return the same to the Writer of such Correspondence respectively or to his authorized Agent or Respresentative, upon payment of the Postage due upon such Correspondence; and in case any such returned Correspondence shall be again returned, the Postmaster Ge- neral shall have liberty forthwith to open the said Correspondence so returned to him. and to destroy the same.

XX. No Person shall wittingly, willingly, or knowingly open, detain or delay. with certain excep- or cause, procure, or suffer any Correspondence to be opened, detained, or delayed after delivery into the Post Office, or into the hands of any Person employed for the receiv

tions.