Legal basis: People's Republic of China (PRC) Postal Law.
Article 2 The State guarantees universal postal service for the people of China and China.
Postal enterprises undertake the obligation to provide universal postal services in accordance with state regulations.
The State Council and local people's governments at all levels and their relevant departments shall take measures to support postal enterprises in providing universal postal services.
The term "universal postal service" as mentioned in this Law refers to the postal service that is continuously provided to the people of China and all users in China at reasonable charges according to the business scope and service standards stipulated by the state.
Article 3 Citizens' freedom and privacy of correspondence are protected by law. No organization or individual may infringe upon citizens' freedom and privacy of communication for any reason, except that public security organs, state security organs and procuratorial organs check communications in accordance with the procedures prescribed by law because of national security or the need to investigate criminal offences.
Except as otherwise provided by law, no organization or individual may inspect or detain mail or remit money.
Article 4 The postal administration department of the State Council is responsible for the supervision and management of the universal postal service and the postal market throughout the country.
The postal administrations of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of the universal postal service and the postal market within their respective administrative areas.
The postal administration departments below the provincial level established in accordance with the provisions of the State Council shall be responsible for the supervision and management of the universal postal service and the postal market within their respective jurisdictions.
Postal administrations in the State Council, provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, and postal administrations below the provincial level (hereinafter referred to as postal administrations) shall follow the principles of openness, fairness, impartiality, encouraging competition and promoting development.