Postal_Guide_September_1963 — Page 38

34 Registration

INQUIRIES ABOUT LOSS OR NON-DELIVERY

Inquiry about the loss or non-delivery of a registered packet must be accompanied by a fee of $1.00 unless the sender has already paid the fee for an advice of delivery at time of posting. If possible a facsimile of the envelope or of the address of the packet should be furnished with the inquiry. This fee provides for the quickest means of transmission either air or surface and will be refunded if it is found that the postal service is at fault. One fee of $1.00 covers inquiries concerning several packets posted at the same time by the same sender to the same addressee.

PAYMENT FOR LOSS

The Post Office pays the sum of $46 to the sender of a letter or packet duly admitted to registration which has been entirely lost whilst in its custody, except in the case of:

Any packet which has been compulsorily registered;

Any packet which has been lost through a cause beyond control, generally speaking where no question of negligence arises. Compensation will not be paid for any loss due to the act of the Queen's enemies;

Any packet which the Post Office cannot account for in consequence of the loss of official documents through a cause beyond control;

Any packet confiscated under the internal legislation of the country to which it is addressed;

Any packet containing a prohibited article; and

Any packet in respect of which an inquiry is not made within a year of the date of posting.

Subject to the same conditions, which are prescribed by the Universal Postal Con- vention, the postal administrations of all countries included in the Postal Union accept responsibility in respect of registered letters or packets lost whilst in their custody.

Under international regulations, compensation is not paid for the loss or damage of the contents of a registered packet in the international service, as distinct from the loss of the entire packet; and if it is desired to obtain compensation in the case of damage or loss of the contents of a letter, or to provide for a higher maximum than $46, the insurance service should be used.

The Post Office is not legally liable to pay compensation in respect of any packet to or from a place abroad for which a registration fee has been paid. On the transfer of a registered packet to another postal administration, the responsibility of the Hong Kong Post Office ceases. Compensation is not paid in respect of a registered packet which is lost after transfer to another postal administration, unless that administration decides that compensation shall be paid.

If a registered article considered to be lost is subsequently found, the person to whom compensation has been paid may take possession of the article against repayment of the amount of compensation.