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3 million dollars, of which just over million was recovered. There were 5,233 prosecutions for serious offences, against 6,303 in 1947. There were 98,150 persons prosecuted for minor offences, compared with 99,166 in 1947.
The year was one of steady improvement in man-power and material. The peculiar geographical position of Hong Kong, and its land and sea frontiers, with turbulent and unsettled China, posed political and other problems which frequently added to the difficulties of police action. On the whole, despite the abnormality of the situation, the Colony had a year of comparative serenity, and the general results compare favourably with more settled territories.
PRISONS
The Prison Buildings.
There are three prisons in Hong Kong, Stanley Prison, Victoria Gaol and Lai Chi Kok Female Prison.
Stanley Prison, the main gaol in the Colony, is a modern building built in 1937 amid rural surroundings which was intend- ed to provide for all male prisoners in the Colony. It is an ex- cellent building with well appointed administrative offices, stores, hospital and kitchens, but no facilities for proper clasification of prisoners nor means of employment for more than 1,000 men. It has been overcrowded since the day it was opened when the muster was 2,215. There were 2,672 prisoners in the gaol at the end of 1948 in accommodation suitable for only 1,578. In one of the cell blocks 40 cells have double-sized windows to provide a good supply of air for prisoners suffering from tuberculosis who do not need to be admitted to hospital. The building which originally housed the printery has been adapted to provide as- sociation wards, workshops, and schoolrooms for up to 200 young* prisoners between the ages of 16 and 21 years.
Victoria Gaol, which was the Colony's first prison, has been adapted to form a fairly satisfactory building. Most of the old dungeon-like cells have been demolished and new cells and association rooms have been built which enable the various classes of prisoners to be segregated. At the beginning of 1948 there were 150 cells for all purposes but by the end of the year the first stage of the programme of adaptation and restoration had been completed so that there are now 252 cells and 13 association rooms, each of which rooms accommodates from four to twenty five prisoners. Without placing more than one prisoner in a cell there is room now for 416 prisoners. In fact, 437 persons comprising
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