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To the Chairman,
(Enclosure 5.)
GAOL ACCOMMODATION COMMITTEE.
HONGKONG, 30th April, 1886.
Your Sub-Committee appointed to report on the present diet in Victoria Gaol met at 5.30 P.M., this day.
Present-Major-General GORDON, Chairman.
Dr. AYRES.
Dr. MANSON.
1. The Sub-Committee examined the diet scales as were established. Compared them with those of other Colonies and also took evidence as to the usual diet of coolie labourers in this Colony.
2. The Sub-Committee next proceeded to consider the dietary scale of Chinese male prisoners sentenced to Penal Servitude. They consider the diet for this class of Prisoners is much in excess of requirements for health. They specially observe that Chinese Prisoners of this class, while receiving better diet all round in Victoria Gaol than in Singapore Gaol, are further supplied with 16 ounces of pork a week here, as against 4 ounces a week in Singapore. The Sub-Committee recommend that the pork ration to this class of Prisoners be reduced to one issue of 4 ounces per week to be issued on Sundays.
3. With reference to the diet scale of Chinese Prisoners sentenced to over six months including Penal Servitude Prisoners (Scale No. 1.) the Sub-Committee recommend that the issue of fresh fish be reduced from 6 to 4 ounces three times a week.
4. With reference to the diet scale of Chinese Prisoners sentenced to 6 months and under (Scale No. 2.) the Sub-Committee consider the diet ample, but not excessive and they do not recommend any change.
5. The same as regards No. 3 Scale for Female and Juvenile Prisoners.
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6. As regards No. 4 Scale the number of Prisoners receiving this scale is small and Debtors subsistence is paid for without cost to Government. No change is therefore recommended.
7. Numbers 5 and 6 scales of Penal and reduced Penal diet appear suitable and should not be altered.
8. As regards No. 7 or Punishment diet scale, the Sub-Committee find that this scale is throughout British Dominions fixed at 1 tb. of bread per diem for Europeans. 11 ounces of uncooked rice weighing about 24 ounces when cooked, are equal in per- centage of nutriment to 1 lb. of bread and considering that the average weight of a Chinaman is below that of a European the Committee are of opinion that 12 ounces of uncooked rice would be a most ample equivalent and strongly recommend that 12 ounces of rice be the maximum of punishment diet scale for all Chinese Prisoners.
9. The Sub-Committee further recommend that some tentative measures be adopted experimentally to substitute other vegetables such as sweet potatoes or millet for rice, which experiments could be tried on a limited number of Prisoners under the supervi- sion of the Medical Officer, and Superintendent.
10. In recommending the introduction of these dietary changes, the Sub-Committee taking into consideration the condition of the Gaol and the circumstances stated in the Superintendent's Report for 1885 para. 16 must record their opinion that such changes cannot perhaps be carried out without some risk of disturbance and insubordination on the part of Prisoners, and keeping in view the vital importance of maintaining discipline in this establishment, they recommend that simultaneously with the introduction of reductions in diet the hands of the Superintendent should be strengthened by increased disciplinary powers.
11. Superintendents of Gaols in Ceylon and the Straits Settlements have power to try prisoners summarily and award a corporal punishment of 12 strokes. The Sub- Committee consider it very necessary, in carrying out the changes recommended, that similar powers should be vested in the Superintendent of Victoria Gaol. Such powers were given him by para. 6 Ordinance No. 4 of 1863, but were suspended by Governor Sir J. POPE HENNESSY on 5th June, 1877.
A. GORDON, Chairman.
PH. B. C. AYRES, Colonial Surgeon.
PATRICK MANSON, M.D.