Sections 77, 88.
1(1)In any proceedings against a person in respect of an offence under section 45 of the [1863 c. 112.] Telegraph Act 1863 or section 11 of the [1884 c. 76.] Post Office (Protection) Act 1884 consisting in the improper divulging of the purport of a message or communication or an offence under section 20 of the [1868 c. 110.] Telegraph Act 1868 it shall be a defence for him to prove that the act constituting the offence was done in obedience to a warrant under the hand of a Secretary of State.
(2)Subsection (2) of section 58 of the [1953 c. 36.] Post Office Act 1953 (warrants in Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man) shall apply for the purposes of the foregoing sub-paragraph as it applies for the purposes of subsection (1) of that section.
2(1)Section 16(1) of the Post Office Act 1953 shall have effect.—
(a)in its application to the Channel Islands, in relation to goods contained in postal packets to which that section applies brought into or sent out of the Channel Islands by post from or to the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man or any place outside the British postal area ; and
(b)in its application to the Isle of Man, in relation to goods contained in postal packets to which that section applies brought into or sent out of the Isle of Man by post from or to the United Kingdom or the Channel Islands or any place outside the British postal area,
as it has effect in relation to goods contained in postal packets brought into or sent out of the United Kingdom by post from or to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or any place outside the British postal area.
(2)In the application of the said section 16 as extended by the foregoing sub-paragraph to the Channel Islands, any reference to the enactments for the time being in force relating to customs shall be construed as a reference to the enactments for the time being in force in the Channel Islands relating to customs.
(3)This paragraph shall be construed as one with the [1953 c. 36.] Post Office Act 1953.
3Section 63 of the Post Office Act 1953 shall have effect as if, in subsection (6) thereof, for the words " any stamp for denoting a current rate of postage of any country outside the British postal area ", there were substituted the words " any current stamp for denoting a rate of postage of any country outside the British postal area ".