150
But 71 of these cells are, solitary, crank or separate cells, containing only one Prisoner each. Each of these 71 cells has upwards of 700 cubic feet of space, some of them nearly double, but counting them only at 700 each and supposing each to be occupied, this would leave 596 Prisoners to occupy rooms whose total cubic space amounts to 89,000 cubic feet or less than 150 cubic feet per man.
I feel assured that, when these facts are taken into consideration by Government, they will recognise the necessity of taking steps to obviate the many dangers of such excessive overcrowding.
It seems to me that either the number of Prisoners must be reduced or additional accommodation must be at once provided.
There are at present 36 men in Gaol for want of Security, and 21 for gambling; these might perhaps be pardoned, but the relief would be very small, and in my opinion the best plan would be to hire another building, or a hulk where all Prisoners sentenced in default of Security, or generally sentenced to 3 months and under could be detained and breathing space thus given to the Prisoners in Victoria Gaol. This would of course necessitate an increased Prison establishment.
In short it is very evident that the Gaol accommodation is not nearly equal to the requirements of the Colony and that even if the building of a new Gaol were at once undertaken other steps would have to be adopted in the meantime to reduce the present state of congestion. Were an epidemic to break out in the Gaol in its present con- gested state the instant removal of probably half the Prisoners would become necessary. It would probably be very difficult to find immediate accommodation for them elsewhere, it would certainly be dangerous to let a large number of criminals suddenly loose on the civil population.
To some extent the congestion might be saved if Magistrates were authorised to punish certain offences by corporal punishment in lieu of imprisonment.
But I must submit that I think it becomes my duty to ask Government to fix a limit, beyond which number I shall not be compelled to receive Prisoners in Victoria Gaol.
(In C.S.O.20) No. 80.
A. GORDON.
Superintendent.
(Continuation of Enclosure 2.)
Superintendent of Victoria Gaol to Acting Colonial Secretary.
GAOL SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 6th April, 1886.
COLONIAL SECRETARY,
In continuation of my letter, No. 72, of 30th ultimo, I beg to report that I have now received the measurements of the Victoria Gaol cells, recently made. from which it appears that the cubic space of the cells amounts to 203,844 feet, and not 138,948 feet as shewn in previous statistical returns.
The present state of the Gaol is therefore as follows:--
There are to-day 736 male Prisoners in Gaol giving an average of 276 cubic
feet for each Prisoner.
Of the 190 cells in Gaol 71 are used as solitary, separate and crank cells; these
can accommodate only 71 men.
2 are used as W. C. and store rooms and are unoccupied.
25 are used for European Prisoners and can only accommodate 25 men. These 98 cells only holding 96 Prisoners contain 78,053 cubic feet, leaving 640 Prisoners in associated wards with 125,791 cubic feet or an average of 195 cubic feet per Prisoner.
But it is impossible in accordance with regulations to equally distribute the Prisoners. Prisoners on removal are kept separate from convicted ones; first conviction Prisoners from old offenders, juveniles from grown up ones. Prisoners with itch have a separate ward, another is set apart for a leprous Prisoner. When therefore the itch or leper cell or juvenile cell containing perhaps 1,200 cubic feet are occupied by only one individual, the available cubic space for other Prisoners becomes correspondingly reduced.
Should the number of Prisoners rise to 800 there would be only an average of 178 cubic feet for each Prisoner in associated wards. Should the number rise to 850 the average would be 166 cubic feet.
A. GORDON.
Superintendent.