POST OFFICE REGULATIONS

POST OFFICE REGULATIONS

POST OFFICE.
POST OFFICE REGULATIONS.
(Cap. 98, section 3).
(Ordinance No. 7 Of 1926).
[1st September, 1938.]

1. These regulations may be cited as the Post Office
Regulations.

2. In any government notification specifying the
postage rates for the time being in force, and in these
regulations-
'printed paper' means a document which is produced by some
mechanical process other than typewriting;
'commercial paper' means a document produced wholly or partly by
hand, which has not the character of personal correspondence and
which does not represent a monetary value;
'circular' means a communication produced by typewriting or other
mechanical process of which copies are addressed to a number of
persons in identical or nearly identical terms.

3. Circulars for addresses in the Colony shall be posted
in batches of not less than ten of uniform size and weight and shall be
posted by being delivered to an officer of the Post Office.

4. The maximum weights for the following postal
articles shall be-
Maximum
weight.
(a) Letters for any destination 4 lb.
for destinations in
the Common-
(b) Printed papers and. wealth 5 lb.
commercial papers
for destination
elsewhere 4 lb.





Maximum
weight.
for destinations in
the Common-
(c) Samples wealth or Egypt. 5 lb,
for destinations
elsewhere 1 lb.
(d) Small packets for any destination 2 lb.

(e) Literature for thefor any destination 11 lb.
blind, posted as such.
Great Britain and
Insured boxes Northern Ireland,
Malaya and China 2 lb.

5. Samples shall possess no saleable value and neither the samples
nor the packets containing them shall bear or contain any writing except
the name or commercial style of the sender, the address of the person
for whom they are intended, a trade mark or manufacturer's mark and
numbers, prices and indications relative to weight, measurements,
dimensions or quantity, or necessary to determine the origin or nature
of the goods.

6. (1) A class of postal packets called 'small packets' is authorized
with the object of affording facilities, in the international service, for the
transmission of small articles of merchandise in the letter mails. The
exchange of small packets is limited to those countries which have
agreed to participate in the service.
(2) The maximum dimensions of a small packet shall be 15 inches by
8 inches by 4 inches or, if in roll form, 18 inches in length and 6 inches
in diameter.
(3) the prohibitions applicable to letter post shall apply also to the
service of small packets. In addition, the following shall be specially
excluded from transmission in small packets
(a) letters, notes or documents having the character
of actual and personal correspondence (this prohi-






bition shall not apply to open invoices reduced to the
simplest form, the address of the addressee, the
description of the article and the sender's address);
(b) coins;
(c) banknotes
(d) currency notes;
(e) negotiable instruments payable to bearer;
(f) platinum, gold or silver, manufactured or not;
(g) precious stones;
(h) jewels and other valuable articles;
(i) postage stamps, whether obliterated or not.

(4) Small packets shall be subject to the requirements for
samples of merchandise as regards form, make up and packing
(e.g. they shall be sent in such a manner as to be easily
examined). In addition, the name and address of the sender shall
be shown on the outside of the packet and each packet shall be
conspicuously marked SMALL PACKET in the top left hand
corner.

(5) Small packets may be registered but not insured.

7. Printed papers, commercial papers and samples may be
inclosed in the same packet : Provided that
(a) each article taken separately shall not exceed the limits
of weight and size applicable to it; and
(b) the total weight shall not exceed 5 lb. if addressed to the
United Kingdom, a British possession or protectorate, or
a country not in the Universal Postal Union, and 4 lb. if
addressed to any foreign country in the Universal Postal
Union.

8. The following letters shall not be subject to any postage-

(a )letters on official business, posted in Hong Kong, from a
department of the Government of the Colony, addressed
to the. United Kingdom or to a British possession or
protectorate, marked ON HIS MAJESTY'S SERVICE
and signed in the lower left-hand corner with the usual
signature of the head or assistant head of the
department of origin;
(b) letters on postal business posted in Hong Kong and
addressed to the, Postmaster General; and





(c)letters on Hong Kong Savings Bank business posted in Hong
Kong and addressed 'Hong Kong Savings Bank'.

9. The following postal packets shall be charged the same rates of
postage as if they were letters
(a) all postal packets which are closed to inspection except
parcels; and
(b) all postal packets which contain a letter.

10. No.postal packet shall contain any inclosure which is directed
to a name and address different from the name and address borne on the
cover and which is inclosed with the intention of evading postage. Any
such inclosure may be taken out and may be forwarded to the addressee
charged with separate postage.

11. Precious stones, jewellery and other precious articles shall not
be sent by letter post.

12. Notwithstanding any alternative method of treatment and
disposal of prohibited articles authorized by the Ordinance, it shall be
lawful for the Postmaster General, or any officer of the Post Office
authorized by him in that behalf, forthwith to destroy any postal packet
and the contents thereof which may have been opened under the
authority of section 10 12 or 13 of the said Ordinance and the contents of
which may be any obscene, immoral, indecent, offensive or libellous
writing, pricture or other thing.

13. Subject to any special agreement between the Postmaster
General and any particular steamship company, the rates of the
gratuities payable under section 19 of the Ordin
ance, shall be-
(a) For transit mails other
than parcels conveyed
to Indo-China and to
ports in China south of
Shanghai $0.50 per bag or paper
..packet.





(b) For transit mails other
than parcels conveyed to
Canada, the United
States (including Ha-
waii), Europe, Australia
and New Zealand $2.00 per bag.
(c) For transit mails other
than parcels conveyed
to any other destination. $ 1,00 per bag.
(d) For mails other than
parcels made up in
Hong Kong $0.10 per lb. or fraction
of a lb.
(e) For parcels originating
in Hong Kong or transit
parcels $0.05 per parcel.

14. The fee for the return of a postal packet under section 11 of the Ordinance
shall be So cents payable in G.N.A.139/49.
stamps.
15. (1) The fee (payable in advance) for the use of a G.N. 410/47.
private box shall be-
(a) Annual, expiring 31st According to size of box,
December, $36 or $24,
or
(b) Monthly, expiring last According to size of box,
day of calendar month. $3 or $2.

(2) A deposit of $5 shall be paid for the use of the key.

(3) Any person desiring to renew his annual or monthly use of a
private box shall pay the annual or monthly fee as the case may be, at
least seven days prior to the expiry date. Failure to comply with this
provision shall entitle the Postmaster General to let the use of the box to
any other person, at any time after the expiry date.

(4) Any person desiring to discontinue the use of a box shall, on
discontinuance, forthwith return the key to the Postmaster General and
reclaim the deposit. Failure to comply with this provision shall entitle the
Postmaster General to forfeit the deposit.





16. The fee for a certificate of posting shall be 2 cents for each
packet posted. It shall be Payable in advance by means of a 2 cents
postage stamp affixed to the certificate.

17. The fee for the reception of mail matter shall be $2 per year or
part of a year. The certificate shall lapse on the 1st December of the year
in which it is issued unless renewed.
18. (1) The registration fee shall be 30 cents for each postal packet
and the fee for an acknowledgmeit of the receipt by the addressee of
any registered postal packet shall be 30 cents.

(2) The registration fee and the postage on a registered packet shall
be prepaid.

19. Unregistered postal packets found to contain banknotes, used
or unused postage stamps, cheques payable to bearer or uncrossed
postal orders or postal notes shall be subject to compulsory registration
and shall be charged a registration fee of fifty cents for each such
packet.

20. (1) For cash on delivery parcels a special fee will be collected for
any trade charge at the rate of io cents for each $xo or fraction of $io
and, in addition, a posting fee of 20 cents will be levied 'on each parcel
so posted.

(2) The trade charge on any one parcel shall not exceed -C40 (or
$200 in the case of Macao).

(3) The cash on delivery fee and the postage must be prepaid on
everY cash on delivery parcel.

(4) In this regulation 'trade charge' means the amount to he
collected on delivery.

21. (1) Local money orders (limit $4oo Hong Kong currency) will be
issued payable in Hong Kong and Macao. Commission shall be charged
at the rate of i cent per dollar or part of a dollar with a minimum charge of
5 cents.

(2) Foreign money orders will be issued at rates of exchange fixed by
the Postmaster General from ti-i-ne to time. Commission shall be charged
at the rate of il cents per dollar or part of a dollar with a minimum charge
of io cents.





(3) In the case of foreign money orders drawn through
London, which must be expressed in sterling, the London
General Post Office will, before issuing an order in the
currency of the country of payment, make a deduction at the
rate of 2d. for each 1 or part of a 1 with a minimum
deduction of 4d.
(4) The limits for a single foreign money order shall be
G$100, 600 rupees, 400 yen and $200 (Chinese cur-
rency) respectively.
(5) A foreign money order remaining unpaid for one
year after the date of issue shall he treated as void.
(6) The fee for an advice of payment shall be 30 cents.
(7) For each telegraphic money order there shall be
charged an additional fee Of 30 cents and also the cost of
the telegram of advice at the deferred rate.

22. Imperial postal orders will be issued at rates of
exchange fixed by the Postmaster General from time to
time.

23. The commission chargeable on local postal notes of
25 cents each payable at Hong Kong and Macao shall be
1 cent,

24. The fee for insurance shall be So cents for each
$300 or part thereof. The right to insure, the limits up to
which insurance may be effected, and the right to compen-
sation in case of loss or damage, shall be subject in.all
respects to the provisions of the Postal Guide. In this re-
gulation 'Postal Guide' means the Postal Guide issued by
the Postmaster General, current at the time of insuring or
claiming as the case may be, and includes anyamendments
of the same whereof notice may from time to time be
exhibited at the Post Office.

25. The selling prices of Imperial and International
reply coupons shall be 20 cents and 45 cents each respec-
tively.

26. The Postmaster General may from time to time fix
temporary charges for letters accepted at Hong Kong for
transmission by experimental Air Mail services. Such
charges shall be in addition to the regular postage and
notice thereof shall be exhibited at the Post Office.





27. (1) The Business Reply Envelope and Card
system mentioned in this regulation enables a person to
obtain transmission, through the local post, without pre-
payment of postage, of envelopes and cards addressed to
himself which he may distribute inclosed with advertising
or other matter.

(2) A person desiring the facilities afforded by the
Business Reply Envelope and Card system must first obtain
a. permit from the Postmaster General.

(3) The fee for a permit shall be $io and must be paid
in advance. Every permit will expire at the end of one
year from date of issue but may be renewed for further
periods of one year at n time on payment of a fee of $io
in respect of each such renewal.

(4) Complete printed proofs of the envelopes or cards
must be forwarded to the Postmaster General for approval
and must conform in size, form and quality to the conditions
prescribed for letters and post cards of the local post and
be printed in black. The address side of the envelope or
card should be printed strictly in accordance with the speci-
men shown below and must not bear any other printings or
markings.

No Postage
Postage Stamp
will be necessary
paid by if posted in
Addressee. Hong Kong.

BUSINESS REPLY CARD*

PERMIT No. 6o.

John Smith & Co.,
1 Chater Road,
Hong Kong.

* or Envelope.





1 (5) The postage due on such cards and envelopes
transmitted to the permit-holder will be calculated at pre-
paid rates applicable to such articles and will be collected
from him on delivery.

(6) Business reply envelopes and cards cannot be
registered, insured or marked for express delivery.

(7) Without prejudice to any other penalties prescribed
in the Ordinance, the permit will be liable to cancellation
in the event of default in payment of postage due on such
cards and envelopes as are transmitted to the permit-holder
through the post.

28. Insured boxes addressed to Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, Malaya and China will be accepted for
transmission in the surface transport letter mails under the
conditions set out in the schedule to this regulation.

The registration fee shall be 30 cents per box and the
insurance fee shall be $0.50 for each $300 of insured value
or part thereof with a maximum insured value of $2,400.

SCHEDULE.
(a) Articles of gold and silver, precious stones, jewellery and
other articles of a like nature, which are prohibited from
transmission in insured letters, may be sent in the letter
mails as 'insured boxes'.
(b) The undermentioned classes of articles are prohibited from
transmission in insured boxes for any destination-
(i) articles the admission or circulation of which in
the country of destination is prohibited;
(ii) letters or notes which may serve as a substitute
for correspondence;
(iii) current coin;
(iv) banknotes or securities payable to bearer;
(v) bonds, and
(vi) articles included in the category of commercial
papers.
It is, however, permissible to insert in an insured box
an open invoice confined to the particulars which constitute
an invoice, and also a simple copy of the addressee's name
and address, and the name and address of the sender.
(c) No claim shall be made in respect of any article contained
in an insured box, any of the contents of which have been
confiscated by a competent authority of any of the coun-
tries of origin, transit or destination.
(d) An insured box must not exceed 2 lb. in weight and must
not measure more than 12 inches in length, 4 inches in
breadth and 4 inches in height. The box employed for pack-
ing must be strongly made of metal or wood, and when a
wooden box is used the wood must be at least A of an inch
thick.





(e) An insured box must be tied crosswise with a single strong
string (not two or more pieces joined), the two ends of
the string being held together under a seal of fine wax
bearing a private mark. The box must also be sealed on
the four sides with seals identical with that used for the
ends of the string. The box must not be wrapped in paper,
but the surfaces of the top and bottom must be covered
with white paper for the inscription of the addressee's name
and address and the insured value of.the contents and for
the impression of the official stamps.

(f) An insured box is subject to the Customs regulations and
laws in force in the country of destination and must be
accompanied by a Customs declaration prepared by the
sender. Customs declarations of the non-adhesive form
used for parcels should be used for boxes posted in this
Colony; but the heading of the first column of the form
should be altered' to 'Insured Boxes-Boites avec valeur
d6clarie' when the form is used for an insured box. The
Customs declarations must be prepared with great care, and
must specify precisely the style of packing and include a
description of the box, its gross weight and the total value
of the contents. The net weight and value of each of the
different kinds of article contained in the box must also be
shown separately.

(g) No box can be accepted for transmission under this arrange-
ment unless the postage, registration and insurance fees are
fully prepaid. Two forms of Customs declarations are
required.

29. If the Postmaster General is of the opinion that the
delivery of telegrams and postal articles cannot readily be
effected at any place without danger to the officers of the
Post Office or because there are not at such place proper
facilities for the receipt of telegrams and postal articles, he
may suspend delivery at such place for such period as he
may think fit upon giving notice of such suspension either
by leaving the same with any adult person at such place or
by causing the same to be inserted in a daily newspaper
published in the Colony.

30. The serider of a parcel may be required to prove his
identity and it shall be lawful for the Postmaster General or
any officer of the Post Office authorized in that behalf to
refuse a parcel the sender of which has after being so required
failed to submit such proof.

31. The sender of a parcel or of a small packet referred
to in these regulations addressed to a place outside the Coloriv
rriust make a customs declaration stating the full address, the
nature, value and the net weight of the contents.
Regulations Fraser, vol. 8, p. 979. G.N. 410/47 G.N.A. 69/48. G.N.A. 70/48. G.N.A. 139/49.
[r. 4 cont]
[r. 8 cont.]
G.N.A. 139/49. G.N. 410/47.
G.N.A. 69/48.
G.N.A. 70/48. G.N.A. 70/48.
(Cap. 98) G.N.A. 70/48.
[sch. cont.]

Regulations Fraser, vol. 8, p. 979. G.N. 410/47 G.N.A. 69/48. G.N.A. 70/48. G.N.A. 139/49.
[r. 4 cont]
[r. 8 cont.]
G.N.A. 139/49. G.N. 410/47.
G.N.A. 69/48.
G.N.A. 70/48. G.N.A. 70/48.
(Cap. 98) G.N.A. 70/48.
[sch. cont.]

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