Postal_Guide_September_1963 — Page 54

50 Prohibitions

(d) Miscellaneous

5. Foodstaffs and other articles, attractive to rats, sent to tropical or sub-tropical countries, or to places beyond the tropics, unless packed in re- ceptacles which are rat-proof and do not allow the smell of their contents to escape.

6. Oilskins and similar oiled goods unless they have been properly stoved or otherwise properly dried to prevent spontaneous combustion. (If sent by air mail the following special packing conditions apply). Where the nature of the articles permit they must be tightly rolled or coiled and wrapped or sealed with heavy paper. Fabricated articles not suitable for such wrappings must be packed in sealed metal boxes or metal lined wooden boxes.

7. Paints, varnishes, enamels, and kindred substances which have a flashpoint below 150°F. Those with a flashpoint between 90°F. and 150°F. are, however, admitted exceptionally subject to com- pliance with the special conditions as to packing and so on given on page 46.

8. Silver bullion, or silver partly manufactured, for example, sheet silver, exceeding $800 in value. 9. Apart from the prohibitions mentioned above, many countries abroad, for various reasons, im- pose restrictions on the importation of certain articles. Thus, the importation of the undermen- tioned articles may be restricted for the reasons indicated:

(a) Arms, in the interests of public security; (b) Pharmaceutical preparations, fresh meat and other foodstuffs, soiled clothing, in the interests of public health;

(c) Plants and parts of plants, including fruit, especially the vine in the case of vine- growing countries, usually for the prevention of the spread of phylloxera;

(d) Hides, skins, wool and other external parts of animals, for the protection of animals against contagious disease;

(e) Tobacco, playing cards, salt, as subject to state monopoly.

10. Articles so restricted can, as a rule, be sent if they comply with certain conditions and in some cases a sanitary certificate in a prescribed form is necessary. In general, plants must be packed securely in such a way that they can be easily examined and where a phylloxera or other sanitary certificate is required, the despatch note, customs declarations, and the cover of the parcel should be noted, for example, Phylloxera Certificate Annexed.

If, notwithstanding the information set out above, parcels containing articles known to be prohibited from importation into the country of destination are observed in the post, they are not forwarded but are returned to the senders. Parcels declared to contain articles of which the importation is permitted only under certain conditions will, generally speaking, be accepted and despatched. The onus of ensuring compliance with these con- ditions rests with the sender; and the Hong Kong Post Office accepts no responsibility for the return or seizure of any parcel through the failure of the sender or addressee to comply with the necessary formalities,