November 21, 1903.
Parcels-Post Convention between the United States of America and the colony of Hong Kong.
Preamble. For the purpose of making better postal arrangements between the United States of America and Hong Hong, the undersigned, Henry C. Payne, Postmaster-General of the United States of America, and Arthur Stewart Raikes, His Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires, by virtue of authority vested in them, have agreed upon the following articles for the establishment of a Parcels-Post system of exchanges between the United States and Hong Kong.
Article I.
Extent of Convention.
The provisions of this Convention relate only to parcels of mail matter to be exchanged by the system herein provided for, and do not affect the arrangements now existing under the Universal Postal Union Convention, which will continue as heretofore; and all the agreements hereinafter contained apply exclusively to mails exchanged under these Articles.
Article II.
Articles admitted to mails.
There shall be admitted to the mails exchanged under this Convention, articles of merchandise and mail matter—except letters, post cards, and written matter—of all kinds, that are admitted under any conditions to the domestic mails of the country of origin, except that no packet may exceed four pounds six ounces (or two kilograms) in weight, nor the following dimensions: Greatest length in any direction three feet six inches; greatest length and girth combined, six feet; and must be so wrapped or enclosed as to permit their contents to be easily examined by postmasters and customs officers; and except that the following articles are prohibited admission to the mails exchanged under this Convention:
Articles prohibited.
Publications which violate the copyright laws of the country of destination; poisons, and explosive or inflammable substances; fatty substances, liquids, and those which easily liquefy; confections and pastes; live or dead animals, except dead insects and reptiles when thoroughly dried; fruits and vegetables which easily decompose, and substances which exhale a bad odor; lottery tickets, lottery advertisements, or lottery circulars; all obscene or immoral articles: articles which may in any way damage or destroy the mails, or injure the persons handling them.
Freedom from inspection.
2. All admissible articles of merchandise mailed in one country for the other, or received in one country from the other, shall be free from any detention or inspection whatever, except such as is required for collection of customs duties; and shall be forwarded by the most speedy means to their destination, being subject in their transmission to the laws and regulations of each country, respectively.
Article III.
Letters must not accompany parcels. 1. A letter or communication of the nature of personal correspondence must not accompany, be written on, or enclosed with any parcel.
