Postal_Guide_September_1963 — Page 79

76 Overseas Post

AIR PARCEL POST

Parcels may be sent by air to some countries and the same customs declarations, despatch notes, etc., are required as for surface parcels, in addition a blue air mail label must be affixed to the address side of the wrapping, and to the despatch note if the country of destination requires a despatch note. Air parcels are subject to the same general conditions as are applicable to surface parcels. It should be understood that they may be subject to delay in customs in the country of destination.

POSTING

Parcels must be handed in at a Post Office and a certificate of posting should be obtained. This certificate does not confer any title or claim on the Post Office in case of loss or damage to the parcel, although compensation is paid in certain cases. See Section 1 of this Guide.

Overseas parcel mails close one hour earlier than the advertised time of closing of letter mails for the same destinations, except when the letter mail is due to close before 10 a.m., in these cases the parcel mail will be closed on the previous weekday. Parcels cannot be registered but may be insured if such a service is shown as available under the country concerned. The regulations concerning insurance will be found in Section I of this Guide.

Posting in large numbers. It will be of material advantage to the sender, and to the Post Office, if persons wishing to post a large number of parcels, ordinary or insured, will give due notice to the Post Office. Arrangements will be made for a special form of receipt which will expedite the treatment of such parcels.

Liability. The sender of a parcel which has not been delivered to the addressee has to pay the conveyance and other costs incurred as a result of non-delivery even if the parcel has been abandoned, sold or destroyed, and the Post Office reserves the right to collect a deposit in advance to cover such costs.

PREFERENTIAL TARIFFS

Many articles of British production or manufacture are entitled to preferential rates of Customs duty within the Commonwealth if accompanied by a Certificate of Imperial Preference which can be obtained from the Commerce and Industry Department, Fire Brigade Building, Connaught Road, Hong Kong.

CASH ON DELIVERY PARCELS

Under this service which is available to Great Britain; Sarawak; Malaya and Singapore; North Borneo (the latter service operates from Hong Kong only) the amount, called the trade charge, specified by the sender for collection on delivery of a parcel can, on certain conditions, be collected from the addressee by the Post Office and remitted to the sender by means of a special order. Parcels sent under this system are known as cash on delivery parcels.

CONDITIONS

The trade charge on any one parcel to Great Britain may in no case exceed £40 or HK$640.00 and one to Sarawak or to Malaya or to Singapore or to North Borneo HK$640.00, and the trade charge may not be cancelled or reduced after the parcel is posted. Parcels on which trade charges are to be collected must be handed in at a post office. The sender must obtain a certificate of posting, the production of which may be required as a condition of payment of the trade charge money order. If the insurance of a cash on delivery parcel is desired, the usual conditions for insurance must be observed.

The sender must furnish, on the cover of the parcel, or on a label affixed to the cover, his name and address and the word REMBOURSEMENT followed by the amount of the trade charges. These particulars may be furnished on the back of the parcel if there is no room for them on the front. No erasure or alteration of the entry of the money is allowed. An incorrect entry must be completely obliterated and a fresh entry made.