464
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH JUNE, 1881.
7. I have delayed sending in this Report in the expectation of receiving, long ere this, copies of the Annual Reports of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Convict Prisons, so that I could have remodelled my Return of profitable labour somewhat after the Returns supplied to Her Majesty's Government at home and laid before Parliament. These Reports have, however, not yet arrived, nor I have been have the "Regulations for the Conduct of Convict Prisons," applied for at the same time. more anxious to receive the latter than the former, as I wish to see introduced, as early as possible, into this gaol some satisfactory and self-working system for the remission of sentences, and the remuneration of industrious prisoners for their work.
8. I had the honour of laying a draft of such rules before His Excellency as far back as the commencement of 1879, but, in consequence of the impossibility of carrying them out except in a gaol modelled on the separate system, they were laid on one side to await the approval of the plans of the new gaol. Since then a new Prison Act has been introduced in England, and new regulations framed under it. This Act and its regulations I have applied for, and am anxious to obtain, so as to establish a new system of remission of sentences and remuneration of prisoners.
9. The want of means of extending assistance to deserving prisoners who seem repentant of their first fall and wish to lead a better life, if assisted at the outset, has, in the absence of any "Prisoners' I had either to assist them myself or send them away empty, Aid Society," been much felt by me. soon to return again.
10. On Christmas Day 1879, however, I received a handsome donation from a resident of long standing in the Colony, who requested that the money be devoted to the aid of discharged prisoners. I have carried out his wishes, and, I may say, with the best results, as very few of those who have been assisted have returned to gaol a second time; but as the majority of those assisted have immediately left the Colony to try their fortunes elsewhere, I have been unable, according to the wish of the charitable donor, to give him any subsequent history of the recipients of his bounty. This fund is now exhausted, and I do not think we should look any longer to outside aid to reinstate it, but should establish a system of remuneration from the profits of their labour, which would serve as an incentive to the prisoners to good conduct and industry while in gaol.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
M. S. TONNOCHY, Superintendent.
The Honourable Dr. F. STEWArt,
Acting Colonial Secretary,
HONGKONG.
RETURN shewing the NUMBER of PRISONERS in VICTORIA GAOL on the last Day of each Week of the Year 1880.
WEEKLY, 1880.
EURO-
PEANS.
CHINESE OR COLOURED,
TOTAL.
WEEKLY, 1880.
EURO-
PEANS.
CHINESE OR COLOURED.
TOTAL.
A
Males.
Males. Females.
恿
Males.
Males. Females.
January
4
29
502
14
545
July
4
30
487
17
534
11
38
509
15
562
11
30
500
18
548
22
"
18
36
511
14
561
18
31
479
20
5.30
""
25
40
527
15
582
25
33
489
21
543
February
1
38
519
15
572
August
1
34
477
20
531
37
521
14
572
8
36
449
20
505
"
33
15
35
534
17
586
15
34
428
19
481
"J
"
22
34
531
16
581
22
37.
469
24
530
32
"
29
27
500
17
544
29
38
►
463
23
524
وو
23
March
7
29
495
17
541
September
43
446
17
506
14
37
511
17
565
12
44
451
21
516
55
21
35
507
16
558
19
41
455
19
515
35
33
28
34
527
16
577
26
40
471
18
529
*
April
4
32
538
15
585
October 3
41
471
20
.532
11
33
517
16
566
10
47
526
19
592
"J
18
51
25
J7
May
19
"3
""
>>
June
"2
"
NUKLINTON&D
29
542
18
589
17
46
535
18
599
>>
30
532
16
578
24
553
16
615
"
34
494
16
544
31
602
14
665
9
33
522
17
572
November 7
52
577
16
645
16
34
523
21
23
37
556
30
35
531
34
554
13
35
563
20
32
534
27
29
504
7222222
578
14
51
550
22
623
33
615
21
56
552
21
629
20
586
28
65
546
27
638
19
607
December
5
62
550
25
637
620
12
52
537
29
618
19
585
19
52
545
32
629
35
553
26
53
533
25
611
Jy
M. S. TONNOCHY, Superintendent.
Victoria Gaol Office, Hongkong, 27th May, 1881.