196
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 27ra MARCH, 1897.
Prisoners sentenced to short terms of imprisonment, not exceeding fourteen days: With two or more convictions. Girls under sixteen years of age: First
conviction.
Girls under sixteen years of age: With
two or more convictions.
All officers of the prison shall endeavour to carry out this rule, bearing in mind that the object of classification is to prevent the contami- nation by depraved prisoners of prisoners not so depraved and to attempt to ensure that a prisoner shall go out of prison not worse than he came in.
VISITS AND COMMUNICATIONS
TO PRISONERS, &c.
24Q. Convicted prisoners, with the exception of those heretofore mentioned, after they have served the first three months, inay write and receive one letter every three months; but the Superintendent may permit any prisoner to write a special letter or to see his friends, immediately after conviction, if for the purpose of making arrangements respecting his property or otherwise.
241. All letters to and from prisoners (except as provided by rule 171) shall be read by the Superintendent, and shall be forwarded or kept back according to the nature of their contents. Events of importance to prisoners may be com- municated to them at any period by the Superin- tendent.
242. The privilege of writing and receiving letters may be postponed or forfeited by miscon- duct, if so ordered by the Superintendent; but no such order shall be made for a period longer than one month from the time of the prisoner's last report.
243, Convicted prisoners, with the exception of those heretofore mentioned, shall be allowed, after the first three months, to see their relations or friends once in three months, unless such visits are prohibited by the Superintendent for miscon- duct; but no prohibition shall be made for a period longer than one month from the time of the prisoner's last report.
244. The days and hours for visits to the prisoners shall be fixed by the Superintendent, and shall be publicly notified at the gates of the prison.
245. If any prisoner is committed to prison in default of the payment of any sum which, in pursuance of any conviction or order, he is required to pay, such prisoner shall be allowed to com- municate by letter with and to see any of his friends or his solicitor, at any reasonable time, for the bona fide purpose of providing for the pay- ment which would procure his release from prison.
246. In case of very serious illness prisoners may see their relations, if not objected to ou medical grounds.
247. The visits of prisoner's friends shall in no case exceed fifteen minutes, and shall always
be made in the presence of an officer of the prison, and shall be recorded in a book to be kept for that purpose.
248. Officers of Police may visit prisoners for the purpose of identification, on production of an order from the Police, or with Magisterial authority.
249. Officers of the Law, with competent warrants or orders for serving writs or other legal process on persons within the prison, shall be admitted into the prison for that purpose.
250. All prisoners may petition the Governor once shortly after conviction if they wish, but not afterwards unless there are any special circumstances which the Superintendent may consider should be brought to the notice of the Governor, or unless such prisoner has been over one year in prison.
251. No visitor shall be admitted until he has given his name and address, and stated his relationship to or connection with the prisoner he wishes to see, if any; and these particulars shall be duly recorded.
252. No visits shall be made on a Sunday except in cases of emergency,
253. Prisoners who have undergone 2 years' imprisonment and are six months clear of report may receive a visit every two months and write and receive one letter every two months.
254. The prisoners shall be locked in their cells, at the discretion of the Superinten lent, on Sundays and other days when they are doing no labour; care being taken that they have at least one hour's exercise daily.
255. Prisoners sentenced to fourteen days and under may be locked in their cells during the whole of their sentence, with the exception of one hour's daily exercise.
256. Prisoners detained as dangerous or suspicious characters with or without previous convictions, who cannot find security, shall be locked in their cells. They shall keep their cells and cell utensils perfectly clean at all times, and shall have one hour's exercise daily.
257. Male and female prisoners shall always be so confined as to prevent the former from seeing conversing with or holding any inter- course with the latter.
258. A light shall be kept burning constantly throughout the night in every ward or division of the prison in which prisoners shall be confined, but such light shall not be placed within reach of the prisoners.
WOMEN.
259. No male subordinate officer shall enter the Women's Prison unless ordered there specially by the Superintendent or summoned by the Matron for the purpose of quelling a disturbance or of giving other assistance.