THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH FEBRUARY, 1899. 227
13. I append a table shewing the daily average number of prisoners engaged on non-productive labour, on productive labour and in Gaol services, and of the value of the labour of the prisoners in the two latter categories.
14. A statement of the casualties that occurred in the Gaol Staff during the year is annexed.
The large number of resignations in the Indian Staff was due to the men throwing up their appointment to seek more lucrative employment elsewhere.
Vacancies in the European Staff have, with one exception, that of a Hospital Warder, been filled by local candidates drawn from the Army. Some promising officers have been thus acquired.
15. The year has been an exceptionally busy one in the Gaol, and the large works referred to in paragraph 8, carried out as they were, simultaneously with a high daily average, and at times excessive number of prisoners-the daily average in July was 559 and on two occasions during that month the number reached 589—entailed a great deal of new and unaccustomed work on the officers.
Credit is due to all for their share in the labour, but the services rendered by the Chief Warder
in immediately directing and supervising the work deserves special notice.
Mr. CRAIG assisted me with many valuable suggestions in connection with the various works, and to his technical knowledge and unfailing industry and resource is largely due the successful accom- plishment of an undertaking of no small magnitude.
The Honourable
THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
F. H. MAY,
Superintendent.
(A.)
VICTORIA GAOL.
Return of Reports for talking, idling, short oakum picking, &c., in the years 1895, 1896, 1897, and 1898.
1895.
1896.
MONTH.
Daily average number in Prison, 472.
Daily average number in Prison, 514.
1897.
in Prison, 462.
1898.
Daily average number Daily average number
in Prison, 510.
January,
February,
March,
April,
May,
June,
July,
August,
September,
801
214
200
170
314
209
161
113
223
249
147
165
296
257
154
213
295
270
191
223
311
261
166
241
447
191
142
282
374
192
159
331
346
213
132
274
October,..
November,.
309
174
160
227
273
174
151
131
December,
225
188
140
100
Total,
3,654
2,592
1,903
2,470