目 录 第一章 总则 第二章 邮政企业的设置和邮政设施 第三章 邮政业务的种类和资费 第四章 邮件的寄递 第五章 邮件的运输、验关和检疫 第六章 损失赔偿 第七章 罚则 第八章 附则 第一章 总 则 第一条 为了保护通信自由和通信秘密，保障邮政工作的正常进行，促进邮 政事业的发展，以适应社会主义建设和人民生活的需要，根据《中华人民共和国 宪法》，制定本法。 第二条 国务院邮政主管部门管理全国邮政工作。 　　国务院邮政主管部门根据需要设立地区邮政管理机构，管理各该地区的邮政 工作。 第三条 国务院邮政主管部门所属的邮政企业是全民所有制的经营邮政业务 的公用企业。 邮政企业按照国务院邮政主管部门的规定设立经营邮政业务的分支机构。 第四条 通信自由和通信秘密受法律保护。除因国家安全或者追查刑事犯罪 的需要，由公安机关、国家安全机关或者检察机关依照法律规定的程序对通信进 行检查外，任何组织或者个人不得以任何理由侵犯他人的通信自由和通信秘密。 第五条 用户交寄的邮件、交汇的汇款和储蓄的存款受法律保护。除法律另 有规定外，任何组织或者个人不得检查、扣留。 第六条 邮政企业应当为用户提供迅速、准确、安全、方便的邮政服务。 　　除法律另有规定外，邮政企业和邮政工作人员不得向任何组织或者个人提供 用户使用邮政业务的情况。 第七条 邮件和汇款在未投交收件人、收款人之前，所有权属于寄件人或者 汇款人。 第八条 信件和其他具有信件性质的物品的寄递业务由邮政企业专营，但是 国务院另有规定的除外。 　　邮政企业根据需要可以委托其他单位或者个人代办邮政企业专营的业务。代 办人员办理邮政业务时，适用本法关于邮政工作人员的规定。 第九条 任何单位或者个人不得伪造或者冒用邮政专用标志、邮政标志服和 邮政专用品。 第二章 邮政企业的设置和邮政设施 第十条 邮政企业及其分支机构的设置标准，由国务院邮政主管部门规定。 第十一条 邮政企业应当在方便群众的地方设置分支机构、邮亭、报刊亭、 邮筒等设施，或者进行流动服务。 城市居民楼应当设置住户接收邮件的信报箱。 在较大的车站、机场、港口和宾馆内，应当设有办理邮政业务的场所。 第三章 邮政业务的种类和资费 第十二条 邮政企业经营下列业务： （一）国内和国际邮件寄递； （二）国内报刊发行； （三）邮政储蓄、邮政汇兑； （四）国务院邮政主管部门规定的适合邮政企业经营的其他业务。 第十三条 邮政企业及其分支机构不得擅自停办国务院邮政主管部门和地区 邮政管理机构规定的必须办理的邮政业务。 因不可抗力或者特殊原因，邮政企业及其分支机构需要暂时停止或者限制办 理部分邮政业务，必须经国务院邮政主管部门或者地区邮政管理机构批准。 第十四条 邮政企业应当加强报刊发行工作。出版单位委托邮政企业发行报 刊，应当与邮政企业订立发行合同。 　　第十五条　邮政业务的基本资费，由国务院物价主管部门制定，报国务院批 准。非基本资费由国务院邮政主管部门规定。 　　第十六条　各类邮件资费的交付，以邮资凭证或者证明邮资已付的戳记表示。 　　第十七条　邮票、邮资信封、邮资明信片、邮资邮简等邮资凭证由国务院邮 政主管部门发行，任何单位或者个人不得伪造。 仿印邮票图案的管理办法，由国务院邮政主管部门规定。 第十八条 售出的邮资凭证不得向邮政企业及其分支机构兑换现金。 停止使用的邮资凭证，由国务院邮政主管部门在停止使用前一个月公告并停 止出售，持有人可以自公告之日起六个月内向邮政企业及其分支机构换取有效的 邮资凭证。 第十九条 下列邮资凭证不得使用： （一）经国务院邮政主管部门公告已经停止使用的； （二）盖销或者划销的； （三）污染、残缺或者褪色、变色，难以辨认的； （四）从邮资信封、邮资明信片、邮资邮简上剪下的邮票图案。 第四章 邮件的寄递 　　第二十条　用户交寄邮件，必须遵守国务院有关主管部门关于禁止寄递物品、 限量寄递物品的规定。 第二十一条 用户交寄除信件以外的其他邮件，应当交邮政企业或者其分支 机构当面验视内件。拒绝验视的，不予收寄。 用户交寄的信件必须符合准寄内容的规定，必要时邮政企业及其分支机构有 权要求用户取出进行验视。 第二十二条 邮政企业及其分支机构应当按照国务院邮政主管部门规定的时 限投交邮件。 第二十三条 无法投递的邮件，应当退回寄件人。 无法投递又无法退回的信件，在国务院邮政主管部门规定的期限内无人认领 的，由地区邮政管理机构负责销毁。 无法投递又无法退回的进口国际邮递物品，在国务院邮政主管部门规定的期 限内无人认领的，由海关依法处理。 无法投递又无法退回的其他邮件的处理办法，由国务院邮政主管部门规定。 　　第二十四条　邮政汇款的收款人应当自收到汇款通知之日起两个月内凭有效 证明到邮政企业或者其分支机构兑领汇款；逾期未领的汇款，由邮政企业或者其 分支机构退回汇款人。自退汇通知投交汇款人之日起满十个月未被领回的汇款， 上缴国库。 第二十五条 寄递邮件逐步实行邮政编码，具体办法由国务院邮政主管部门 规定。 第五章 邮件的运输、验关和检疫 第二十六条 铁路、公路、水运、航空等运输单位均负有载运邮件的责任， 保证邮件优先运出，并在运费上予以优惠。 第二十七条 邮政企业在车站、机场、港口转运邮件，有关运输单位应当统 一安排装卸邮件的场所和出入通道。 第二十八条 带有邮政专用标志的邮政车船和邮政工作人员进出港口、通过 渡口时，应当优先放行。带有邮政专用标志的邮政车辆需要通过禁行路线或者在 禁止停车地段停车的，由有关主管部门核准通行、停车。 第二十九条 邮件通过海上运输时，不参与分摊共同海损。 第三十条 国际邮递物品未经海关查验放行，邮政企业不得寄递。国际邮袋 出入境、开拆和封发，应当由海关监管。邮政企业应当将作业时间事先通知海关， 海关应当按时派员到场监管查验。 第三十一条 依法应当施行卫生检疫或者动植物检疫的邮件，由检疫部门负 责拣出并进行检疫；未经检疫部门许可，邮政企业不得运递。 第六章 损失赔偿 第三十二条 用户对交寄的给据邮件和交汇的汇款，可以在交寄或者交汇之 日起一年内，持据向收寄、收汇的邮政企业或者其分支机构查询。邮政企业及其 分支机构应当在国务院邮政主管部门规定的期限内将查询结果通知查询人。 查复期满无结果的，邮政企业应当先予赔偿或者采取补救措施。自赔偿之日 起一年内，查明有本法第三十四条第（二）项和第（三）项情形之一的，邮政企 业有权收回赔偿。 第三十三条 邮政企业对于给据邮件丢失、损毁、内件短少，依照下列规定 赔偿或者采取补救措施： （一）挂号信件，按照国务院邮政主管部门规定的金额赔偿。 　　（二）保价邮件，丢失或者全部损毁的，按照保价额赔偿；内件短少或者部 分损毁的，按照保价额同邮件全部价值的比例对邮件实际损失予以赔偿。 （三）非保价邮包，按照邮包实际损失价值赔偿，但是最高不超过国务院邮 政主管部门规定的限额。 （四）其他给据邮件，按照国务院邮政主管部门规定的办法赔偿或者采取补 救措施。 第三十四条 有下列情形之一的，邮政企业不负赔偿责任： （一）平常邮件的损失； （二）由于用户的责任或者所寄物品本身的原因造成给据邮件损失的； 　　（三）除汇款和保价邮件以外的其他给据邮件由于不可抗力的原因造成损失 的； 　　（四）用户自交寄给据邮件或者交汇汇款之日起满一年未查询又未提出赔偿 要求的。 第三十五条 用户因损失赔偿同邮政企业发生争议的，可以要求邮政企业的 上级主管部门处理，对处理不服的可以向人民法院起诉；也可以直接向人民法院 起诉。 第七章 罚 则 第三十六条 隐匿、毁弃或者非法开拆他人信件，侵犯公民通信自由权利， 情节严重的，依照《中华人民共和国刑法》第一百四十九条的规定追究刑事责任； 尚不够刑事处罚的，依照《中华人民共和国治安管理处罚条例》第二十二条的规 定处罚。 第三十七条 邮政工作人员私自开拆或者隐匿、毁弃邮件的，依照《中华人 民共和国刑法》第一百九十一条第一款的规定追究刑事责任。 犯前款罪而窃取财物的，依照《中华人民共和国刑法》第一百九十一条第二 款的规定，按贪污罪从重处罚。 第三十八条 故意损毁邮筒等邮政公用设施，尚不够刑事处罚的，依照《中 华人民共和国治安管理处罚条例》第二十五条的规定处罚；情节严重的，依照《 中华人民共和国刑法》第一百五十六条的规定追究刑事责任。 第三十九条 邮政工作人员拒不办理依法应当办理的邮政业务的，故意延误 投递邮件的，给予行政处分。邮政工作人员玩忽职守，致使公共财产、国家和人 民利益遭受重大损失的，依照《中华人民共和国刑法》第一百八十七条的规定追 究刑事责任。 第四十条 违反本法第八条规定，经营信件和其他具有信件性质的物品的寄 递业务的，由工商行政管理部门责令其将收寄的信件和其他具有信件性质的物品 及收取的资费退还寄件人，处以罚款。 当事人对处罚决定不服的，可以在接到处罚通知之日起十五日内向人民法院 起诉；逾期不起诉又不履行的，由工商行政管理部门申请人民法院强制执行。 第八章 附 则 第四十一条 本法下列用语的含义是： （一）邮件：指通过邮政企业寄递的信件、印刷品、邮包、汇款通知、报刊 等。 （二）信件：指信函和明信片。 （三）平常邮件：指邮政企业及其分支机构在收寄时不出具收据，投递时不 要求收件人签收的邮件。 （四）给据邮件：指挂号信件、邮包、保价邮件等由邮政企业及其分支机构 在收寄时出具收据，投递时要求收件人签收的邮件。 （五）国际邮递物品：指中华人民共和国与其他国家和地区的用户相互寄递 的印刷品和邮包。 （六）邮政专用品：指邮政日戳、邮政夹钳和邮袋。 第四十二条 中华人民共和国缔结或者参加的有关国际邮政事务的国际条约 同本法有不同规定的，适用该国际条约的规定。但是，中华人民共和国声明保留 的条款除外。 　　第四十三条　国务院邮政主管部门根据本法制定实施细则，报国务院批准施 行。 第四十四条 本法自一九八七年一月一日起施行。 POSTAL LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Important Notice: (注意事项) 英文本源自中华人民共和国务院法制局编译, 中国法制出版社出版的《中华 人民共和国涉外法规汇编》(1991年7月版). 当发生歧意时, 应以法律法规颁布单位发布的中文原文为准. This　English　document　is　coming　from　the　"LAWS　AND　 REGULATIONS　OF　THE　PEOPLE'S　REPUBLIC　OF　CHINA　 GOVERNING　FOREIGNRELATED　MATTERS" (1991.7)　which　is　 compiled　by　the　Brueau　of　Legislative　Affairs　of　the　State　 Council　of　the　People's　Republic　of　China,　and　is　published by　the　China　Legal　System　Publishing　House.In　case　of　 discrepancy,　the　original　version　in　Chinese　shall　prevail. Whole Document (法规全文) POSTAL　LAW　OF　THE　PEOPLE'S　REPUBLIC　OF　CHINA (Adopted　at　the　18th　Meeting　of　the　Standing　Committee　of　 the　Sixth　National　People's　Congress,　promulgated　by　Order　No.　 47　of　the　President　of　the　People's　Republic　of　China　on　 December　2,　1986,　and　effective　as　of　January　1,　1987) Contents Chapter　I　　General　Provisions Chapter　II　　Establishment　of　Postal　Enterprises　and　Postal　 　　　　　　　Facilities Chapter　III　　Classification　of　Postal　Businesses　and　Postal 　　　　　　　Rates Chapter　IV　　Posting　and　Delivery　of　Postal　Materials Chapter　V　　Transportation,　Customs　Examination　and　Quarantine 　　　　　　　Inspection　of　Postal　Materials Chapter　VI　　Compensation　for　Losses Chapter　VII　　Penalty　Provisions Chapter　VIII　　Supplementary　Provisions Chapter I General Provisions Article　1 This　Law　is formulated　in　accordance　with　the　Constitution　of　 the　People's　Republic　of　China,　with　a　view　to　protecting　 freedom　and　privacy　of　correspondence,　ensuring　normal　 progress　of　postal　work,　and　promoting　development　of　postal services,　so　as　to　suit　the　needs　of　socialist　construction　 and　the　livelihood　of　the　people. Article　2　 The　competent　department　of　postal　services　under　the　State　 Council　shall　administer　postal　services　throughout　the　country.　 The　competent　department　of　postal　services　under　the　State　 Council　shall　set　up　regional　administrative　organs　of　postal services　as　required　to　administer　postal　services　of　each　 region. Article 3 The　postal　enterprises　attached　to　the　competent　department of postal　services under the State Council are public enterprises, owned by the　whole people, that operate postal businesses. According　to　stipulations　of　the　competent　department　of　 postal services　under the State Council, postal enterprises shall establish branch offices　that operate postal businesses Article 4 Freedom and privacy of correspondence shall be protected by law. No　organization or individual shall infringe upon the freedom and privacy of　correspondence of other persons for any reason, except when the inspection　of correspondence in accordance with legal procedures by the public　security organ, the state security organ or the procuratorial organ is　necessary for the state's safety or the investigation of criminal offence. Article 5 Postal materials handed in or posted, remittances made and savings　deposited by users shall be protected by law, and shall not be inspected　and withheld by any organization or individual except as otherwise　provided by law. Article 6 Postal enterprises shall provide users with fast, accurate, safe and convenient postal services. Postal enterprises and postal staff shall not provide information to any organization or individual about users' dealings with postal services except as otherwise provided for by law. Article 7 Postal materials and remittances shall be owned by senders and remitters　before they are delivered to recipients and remittees. Article 8 Posting and delivery services of mail and other articles with characteristics of mail shall be exclusively operated by postal enterprises, except as otherwise provided by the State Council. Postal enterprises may, according to needs, entrust other units or　individuals as agents to run businesses exclusively operated by postal　enterprises. The provisions on postal personnel specified in this Law　shall apply to agents when they handle postal businesses. Article 9 No unit or individual shall produce false copies or make fraudulent use of　special postal marks, postal uniforms and special postal articles. Chapter II Establishment of Postal Enterprises and Postal Facilities Article 10 Standards for establishment of postal enterprises and their branch offices　shall be formulated by the competent department of postal services under　the State Council. Article 11 Postal enterprises shall establish branch offices, postal kiosks,　newspaper and periodical stands, mailboxes, etc., in places　convenient to　the masses, or provide mobile services. Residents' mailboxes for receiving　letters and newspapers shall be installed in residential buildings in　cities. Places shall be provided for handling postal business in larger railway　stations, airports, ports and guest houses. Chapter III Classification of Postal Businesses and Postal Rates Article 12 Postal enterprises operate the following businesses: (1) posting and delivery of domestic and international postal materials; (2) distributing domestic newspapers and periodicals; (3) postal savings and postal remittances; and (4) other suitable businesses stipulated by the competent department of　postal services under the State Council. Article 13 Postal enterprises and their branch offices shall not arbitrarily close　down postal businesses that must be handled according to the stipulations　made by the competent department of postal services under the State　Council and the regional administrative organ of postal services.　Owing to force majeure or special reasons, if postal enterprises and their　branch offices need to close down temporarily or restrict the handling of　some postal businesses, they must obtain approval of the competent department of postal services under the State Council or of regional　postal administrative organs. Article 14 Postal enterprises shall strengthen distribution work of newspapers and　periodicals. If publishing units entrust postal enterprises with　distribution of newspapers and periodicals, they must make distribution　contracts with postal enterprises. Article 15 The basic postal rates of postal services shall be set by the competent　department in charge of pricing under the State Council and shall be　reported to the State Council for approval. Non-basic postal rates shall　be formulated by the competent department of postal services under the State Council. Article 16 The payment of postage on various postal materials shall be indicated by　postage certificates or by postmarks showing postage paid. Article 17 Postage stamps, stamped envelopes, stamped postcards, stamped aerogrammes　and other postage certificates shall be issued by the competent department　of postal services under the State Council, and no unit or individual　shall be allowed to produce false copies. The administrative measures on　making facsimiles of stamp patterns shall be formulated by the competent department of postal services under the State Council. Article 18 Postage certificates sold shall not be cashed in postal enterprises or　their branch offices. Postage certificates to be withdrawn from　circulation shall be announced to the public, and sales will be stopped　one month in advance by the competent department of postal services under　the State Council. Holders of such postage certificates may exchange them　for valid postage certificates at postal enterprises and their branch　offices within six months from the date of the announcement. Article 19 The following postage certificates shall not be used: (1) those which the competent department of postal services under　the　State　Council　has　announced　as　withdrawn　from　 usage; (2) those that have been postmarked or cancelled; (3) those that are contaminated, incomplete or illegible due to fading or　discolouring; and (4) stamp patterns cut from stamped envelopes, stamped postcards and　stamped aerogrammes. Chapter IV Posting and Delivery of Postal Materials Article 20 In　handing　in　or　posting　postal　materials,　users　must　abide by the　provisions formulated by the relevant competent department under the State Council on articles forbidden to post or deliver and articles to be posted　or delivered in limited amounts. Article 21 The contents of postal materials, other than letters, to be handed in or　posted by users, shall be checked on the spot by postal enterprises or　branch offices, and if such examination is refused, the postal material shall not be accepted and posted. Mail handed in or posted by users must　be in line with the stipulations concerning the content allowed to be　posted; postal enterprises and their branch offices have the right to　request users to take out the contents for examination, when necessary. Article 22 Postal enterprises and their branch offices shall deliver postal materials　within the time limits laid down by the competent department of postal services under the State Council. Article 23 Undeliverable postal materials shall be returned to the senders. Mail that is both undeliverable and unreturnable, and unclaimed within the　time limit stipulated by the competent department of postal services under the State Council, shall be destroyed on the authority of regional　administrative organs of postal services. Incoming international postal articles that are undeliverable and unreturnable, and unclaimed within the　time limit stipulated by the competent department of postal offices under the State Council, shall be handled by the Customs in accordance with the　law. Disposal measures for other undeliverable and unreturnable postal materials shall be formulated by the competent department of postal　services under the State Council. Article 24 The remittees of postal remittances shall cash the postal remittances with　valid documents at postal enterprises or branch offices within two months of receiving notice of a postal remittance. Remittances unclaimed when the　time period expires shall be returned to the remitters by postal　enterprises or branch offices. Returned remittances which are unclaimed　for a period of ten months, counting from the date of delivering the　 return-remittance notice to the remitter, shall be turned over to the　state treasury. Article 25 In　posting　and　delivering　postal　materials, postal codes shall　be　adopted　gradually,　and　specific　pertinent measures shall be formulated by the　competent department of postal services under the State Council. Chapter V Transportation, Customs Examination and Quarantine Ins- pe ction of Postal Materials Article 26 Transportation　units　operating　railways,　highways,　waterways and　airlines　shall　all　have　the　responsibility　of　carrying and transporting postal　materials, and shall ensure priority to transporting postal materials at preferential freight charges. Article 27 When postal enterprises transfer postal materials in railway stations,　airports and ports, transportation units concerned shall make coordinated　arrangement of space and in-and-out passageways for loading and unloading　postal materials. Article 28 Ships with special postal marks, postal vans and postal staff shall be　given priority in entering and departing ports and crossing on ferries.　Postal vehicles with special postal marks which need to pass through a　lane closed to traffic or to stop in no-parking sections of the road shall be verified and approved by the competent department concerned for passing　or parking. Article 29 When transported by sea, postal materials shall not be included in　arrangements for sharing common sea losses. Article 30 Postal enterprises shall not post or deliver international postal articles　that are not examined and allowed to pass by the Customs.　The　Customs　shall　supervise　the　entry　and　exit, opening, sealing and dispatching of　international mailbags. Postal enterprises shall inform the Customs of their business hours in advance, and the Customs shall promptly send　officials to supervise on-the-spot checking and examination. Article 31 Postal materials that are subject to health and quarantine inspections or　animal and plant quarantine inspections according to law shall be sorted　out and quarantined under the charge of quarantine offices; no　transportation and delivery shall be conducted by postal enterprises without a permit from a quarantine office. Chapter VI Compensation for Losses Article 32 Users may present receipts and inquire, within one year counting from the　date of the posting or remitting, about vouchered postal materials and　remittances which they handed in for posting or remitting at the postal　 enterprises or their branch offices that took in the postal materials or　accepted the remittances. Postal enterprises or branch offices shall　inform inquirers of the results of inquiry within the time limit set by　the competent department of postal services under the State Council.　If no result is found within the time limit for responding to the inquiry, postal enterprises shall make compensation first or take remedial　measures. Within a year counting from the date of making such　compensation, if it is ascertained that the circumstance for which the　compensation was made conforms with either Item (2) or Item (3) of Article　34 of this Law, the postal enterprises shall have the right to recall the　compensation. Article 33 For　loss,　damage,　destruction　or　missing　contents　of　vouchered postal　materials, postal enterprises shall make compensation or take remedial　measures according to the following stipulations: (1) For registered mail, compensation shall be made according to standard　amounts formulated by the competent department of postal services under　the State Council. (2) For insured postal materials which are lost or totally damaged or　destroyed, compensation shall be made according to the insurance coverage.　For missing contents or partial damage or destruction of insured postal　materials, compensation shall be made according to the actual losses of the postal materials, based on the ratio between the insurance coverage　and the whole value of the postal materials. (3) For uninsured postal parcels, compensation shall be made according to　the actual damage due to loss of such postal parcels, but the maximum　compensation shall not exceed the amount formulated by the competent　department of postal services under the State Council. (4) For other types of vouchered postal materials, compensation shall be　made or remedial measures taken according to the measures provided for by　the competent department of postal services under the State Council. Article 34 Postal enterprises shall not be held liable for compensation if one of the　following situations occurs: (1) losses of ordinary postal materials; (2) losses of vouchered postal materials caused by the user or due to some　characteristic of the posted articles per se; (3) losses of vouchered postal materials, other than postal remittances　and insured postal materials, caused by force majeure; and　 (4) users failing to inquire about or demand compensation at the end of　one year, counting from the date of handing in or posting the vouchered　postal materials or making the remittance.　 Article 35 If disputes over compensation for losses occur between users and postal　enterprises, users may request the competent department of postal services　at higher levels to settle; users who refuse to accept the settlement　 thereof may file lawsuits with the people's court; users may also file　lawsuits with the people's court directly. Chapter VII Penalty Provisions Article 36 Persons who infringe upon the citizens' right to freedom of correspondence　by concealing, destroying, discarding or illegally opening mail of another　person, where circumstances are serious, shall be investigated for criminal liability according to the provisions of Article 149 of the　Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China; those whose acts are not　serious enough for criminal punishment shall be punished according to the provisions of Article 22 of Regulations of the People's Republic of China　on Administrative Penalties for Public Security. Article 37 Postal personnel who without permission open or conceal, destroy or　discard postal materials shall be investigated for criminal liability in　accordance with Paragraph 1 in Article 191 of the Criminal Law of the　People's Republic of China. Those who commit the crime specified in the preceding provision and also　steal property therein shall be given a heavier punishment for the crime　of embezzlement in accordance with Paragraph 2 in Article 191 of the　 Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China. Article 38 Persons who intentionally damage or destroy public postal facilities such　as mailboxes, where such acts are not serious enough for criminal　punishment, shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 of Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administrative　Penalties for Public Security; where circumstances are serious, such　persons shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the provisions of Article 156 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic　of China. Article 39 Postal personnel who refuse to handle postal business which should be　handled according to law or who intentionally delay the delivery of postal　materials shall be given administrative disciplinary sanction. Postal personnel who are derelict in their duties and bring about great loss to　public property and the interests of the state and the people shall be　investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the provisions of　Article 187 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China. Article 40 Persons who, in violation of provisions of Article 8 of this Law, handle　the business of posting and delivering mail or articles with　characteristics of mail shall be ordered by industrial and commercial　administrative authorities to return the mail and other articles and the postal fees they have obtained from the senders, and a fine shall be　imposed on them. Parties concerned who refuse to obey the decision of punishment may bring　suit to the people's court within 15 days of receiving the penalty notice.　If parties concerned neither bring suit to the people's court nor　implement the decision before the time limit expires, the industrial and commercial administrative authorities shall apply to the people's court　for mandatory enforcement. Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions Article 41 The meanings of the following terms used in this Law are: (1) postal materials: referring to mail, printed matter, postal parcels,　money orders, newspapers, periodicals, etc., posted and delivered by　postal enterprises. (2) mail: referring to letters and postcards. (3) ordinary postal materials: referring to the postal materials that　postal enterprises and their branch offices do not issue receipts for upon　acceptance and posting, and do not request recipients to sign for on　delivery. (4) vouchered postal materials: referring to postal materials such as　registered mail, postal parcels, insured postal materials, etc., that the　postal enterprises and their branch offices issue receipts for upon　acceptance and posting, and for which recipients are requested to sign on　delivery. (5) international postal articles: referring to printed matter and postal　parcels posted and delivered between users of the People's Republic of　China and users of foreign countries or regions. (6) special postal articles: referring to postal date-marks, postal tongs　for lead sealing and postal bags. Article 42 If provisions of this Law contravene those of the international treaties　concerning international postal affairs which the People's Republic of　China has concluded or to which China is a party, the provisions of the　international treaties concerned shall prevail, with the exception of the treaty clauses on which the People's Republic of China has declared　reservations. Article 43 The competent department of postal services under the State Council shall,　in accordance with this Law, formulate rules for its implementation, which　shall go into effect after being submitted to and approved by the State　Council. Article 44 This Law shall go into effect on January 1, 1987.