HONGKONG.
COMMITTEE'S REPORT ON PRISON ACCOMMODATION.
461
No.
818
32
92
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, on the 16th November, 1892.
SIR,
HONGKONG, November 15th, 1892.
In reply to your letter of the 11th of August last appointing us to serve on a Committee to report on the question of prison accommodation with a view to fulfilling the conditions laid down in Lord KNUTSFORD'S Confidential Despatch dated the 7th of July, 1892, we have the honour to report as follows.
2. After carefully considering the question of prison accommodation and the definite conditions laid down in the above mentioned despatch, viz. :-
(a) The enlargement of the present prison area,
(b) Additions to the existing prison buildings,
(e) Additional space for exercise and for working of prisoners,
(d) The provision of separate cells for the total number of male prisoners belonging to the
criminal class,
we are of opinion that the enlargement of the present prison area can best be effected by including in it the Magistracy and its compound, and that additions to the existing prison buildings might be made by adding to wards BI, BII, Bш, DI, DI, Dп, as shewn on plans Nos. 1, 2 and 3.
3. Additional space for exercise and for working prisoners will be obtained by reserving free of buildings a portion of the present Magistracy premises, now proposed to be included in the prison area, and constructing a flat-roof over the drill shed in the south-east corner of the Gaol compound and erecting over a portion of this open sheds.
4. Provision of separate cells for the total number of male prisoners belonging to the criminal class involves considerable alterations to the existing buildings and the acquisition of private property.
5. Plans numbers 1, 2 and 3 shew the proposed alterations to the existing buildings, from which it will be seen our proposals include the division of most of the existing associated cells, converting wards CI, and DI, now occupied as Tailors' and Printers' Shops, into separate cells, adding to wards BI, BII, BIH, DI, DI and Di, erecting an entirely new block on the site of the present Super- intendent's, Constables' and Guards' Quarters, and extending it over a portion of the Magistracy compound.
This new block to contain Constables' and Guards' Quarters, 141 separate cells and Tailors' and Printers' Shops.
6. The adoption of these proposals will involve accommodation for the Magistracy, Superintendent's Quarters, Turnkeys' Quarters and Gaol Hospital being provided elsewhere.
7. Under these circumstances we recommend the removal of the Magistracy to the nearly vacant ground on the north of the Police Superintendent's Quarters as shewn on plan No. 4. The erection of Gaol Superintendent's Quarters on Inland Lot number 1,281 situated on the west of Old Bailey Street, Turnkeys' Quarters on Inland Lot number 1,282 and Gaol Hospital on Inland Lot number 1,283 as shewn on the enclosed sketch tracings, the first building being two stories in height and the other two three stories.
These premises to be connected with the present Gaol by means of a subway under Old Bailey, Accommodation to be provided on the site of the existing Magistracy cells and latrine for the Police, Stores and Stables now occupying a portion of the site proposed for the new Magistracy.
8. We further recommend the purchase of Inland Lot number 1,284 for the purpose of construct- ing a female prison two stories in height as shewn on the enclosed sketch tracings, the present female prison being a hired building in Wyndham Street and far from suitable for the purpose.
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