, 1869-01-22
ayalla Mjalla Statesmaa.
OFFICIAL.

TED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE
COLONIAL GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG,
CHINA.
Articles of agreement between the Post Office
Dspqrtment of the United States and the Gen
eral Post Office at Hong Kong.
For the purpose of establishing and regulating
the interchange Of mails between the United
States and Hong Kong and dependent Chinese
norts. by means of the direct line OF United
States mail packets plying between San Fran
cisco and Hong Kong via Yokohama in Japan,
II i, agreed between the Post Office Department
of the United States and the Post OHice Depart
ment of Hong Kong
ARTICLE /.
The most Offices of New York and San Fran
cisco shall be the United States offices OF e1'
change. and the General Post Office at Hong
Kong The Office of exchange Of the colony OF
Hong Kong for all mails transmitted under this
arrangement.
ARTICLE II.
There shall he nm exchange of correspondence
between the United States Of America aud the
colony Of Hong Kong, by means OF United states
mail packets, plying between San Francisco an1
Hong Kong, comprising letters, newspapers, ana
rrices current originating and posted in The
limited States and addressed to and deliverable
in Uony Kong and those Chinese ports with
which the Hong Kong post office has postal re>
lations, including the ports OF canton, annoy,
Swatow. and Fo0chOw, and, vice versa, OF cor
respondence originating and posted in Hong
Cong and the Chinese ports above designated,
and addressed to and delivered in the United
States.
ARTICLE III.
The postage to be levied and collected at the
United States, upon letters, newspapers, and
prices current, destined for Hong Kong aud the
above designated Chinese ports, with which Hong
Kong has postal corrections, shall be ten cents
per single rate OF half ounce under on letters,
and two cents each on newspapers and prices
current aud the postage to be levied and col
lected Mt Hong Kong and dependent Chinese
ports, on correspondence originating in those
ports and destined to the United States, shall be
eight cents per single rate Of half an ounce or
under on letters, and two cents on each news
paper or price current No postal accounts shall
be kept between the respective postal depart
menis upon the correspondence exchanged bes |
tween them under this arrangement, but each !
department shall deliver toe correspondence
which it receives from the other free of all post
age charge, that is to say, the Hong Kong post
department agrees to deliver without charge all
letters, newspapers, prices current, brought by
the UnIed States mnil packets, addressed to
Hong Kong, aud, also, to forward without charge
all such letters, newspapers, &c. as are address
ed to ihe Chinese ports above named, south of
Shanghap; and the United States postal depart, |
ment, on its side, agrees to deliver without charge
all letters, newspapers, &c, originating in Hong |
Kong or the ports mentioned aud forwarded by |
said packets addressed TO and deliverable 10 the |
Uuiied States. All letters, newspapers, &C., |
despatched by either office to the other, under |
this arrangement, shall be plainly stamped with |
the words paid ALL" in red ink, on the right
hani upper corner of the face of the address,
nd hall ltls hpa hp etan nj .
change Office on their face, and that of the re.
ceivug exchange office 90 their back.
ARTICLE ".
The postal department of the Uuited States
and Of Houg Kong shall each return to the other,
monthly, or as frequently us their regulations
will allow, all letters, newspapers, &c, without
claim, wGich cannot for any cause be delivered.
ARTICLE V.
An exchange Of mails shall also take place be,
tween the United States postal agency a Yoka>
hama, Japan, and the Hong Kong post Office, by
means Of United States mail packets, comprising
correspondence originating in Japan aud sd>
dressed to Hong Kong aud the Chuese ports
above designated, and vice versa, correspon.
deuce originating in Hong Kong and dependent
Chinese ports aud addressed to japan, ubiect to
the same terms and conditions AS those estab
lished by Article III Of this convention, with
respect to the correspondence exchanged between
TIE United States aud Hong Kong aud dependent
Chinese ports.
ARTICLE VI.
All letters newspapers and prices current in
tended tn be forwarded from Hong Kong to the
United States by the direct line OF United States
mail packets running between San Francisco
and Hong Kong must be specially addressed to
be forwarded By that route.
ARTICLE VII.
The two postal departments may BY mutual
consent make such detailed regulations AS shall
be found necessary to carry out the objects of
this arrangement, such regulations to be term
nable at any time on a reasonable notice by
either office.
Article VIII.
This convention shall come into operation the
first day Of November, 1867 and shall be termi-
nable "t any time on notice by either Office of
six months.
la witness whereof, | have hereunto set my
hand and the seal Of the Post Office Department
this twelfth day OF November, 1861
[. ALEX W. RANDALL,
Postmaster General.
In witness whereof have hereunto set nv
hand and the seal of the colony of Hong Kong,
at Victoria herein, this tenth day Of August 1867.
RICHARD GRAVES MAC DONNELL,
Governor and Comma nder iu Chief
hereby approve The nforegoing convention,
and in ieslimuny thereof ! have caused the seal
of the United States TO be affixed
IS ANDREW JOHNSON.
BY the President:
WILLIAM H. SEWARD,