85
No. 9/
3
95
No. 57.
HONGKONG.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF VICTORIA GAOL FOR 1894.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
VICTORIA GAOL, SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, HONGKONG, 28th January, 1895.
SIR, I have the honour to forward for the information of His Excellency the Governor the Annual Report on the Victoria Gaol for 1894.
2. The total number of admissions was 3,913 of which number 753 had been previously convicted. The number of old offenders admitted during the last two years is nearly 49 per cent. less than in 1892.
3. The daily average number confined in the Gaol was 455 as compared with 458 in 1893. During the months of July, August and September, the daily average number of prisoners was greatly reduced owing to the effect on the Colony of the epidemic of bubonic plague. The numbers for those three months were 401, 398 and 404 respectively. The lowest number in Gaol on any one day was 373 on the 11th August, but as the epidemic disappeared the number increased till the daily total reached 539 on the 10th December.
4. There were 5,120 offences against prison discipline committed during the year being 11.27 offences to each prisoner as compared with 11.15 in 1893.
5. The sanitary state of the Gaol was good. There were 3 cases of bubonic plague, the first case being noticed on the 21st May. The prisoner who was discharged on the afternoon of that day had been 2 days in Gaol. In the second case the prisoner was admitted to Gaol on the 5th June, was admitted to hospital on the 8th and was released on the 14th June. In the third case the prisoner was admitted to Gaol on the 12th June, was admitted to hospital on the 20th and was released on the 21st June. The Gaol Medical Officer informs me that he is of opinion that in no case was the disease contracted in the Gaol. All prisoners were subjected to a searching medical examination on admission before they were told off to cells and every precaution was taken to prevent the disease from spreading. 6. Attention has been directed during the year to the very large number of prisoners on light labour by order of the Medical Officer. The daily average number of these prisoners was 105 or about 23 per cent. of the prisoners in Gaol. This is a very large proportion and under such con·litions the Gaol becomes an asylum.
7. The amount paid into the Treasury during the year on account of industrial labour was $383.33 less than in 1893. This is due to the decreased profit on the oakum sold owing to the further increased cost of paper stuff.
8. The daily average number of females was 14. The want of proper accommodation for female prisoners has been severely felt.
9. The record of casualties in the staff shows that 48 third class Turnkeys, 4 second class Guards and 1 Nurse of the Female Prison joined during the year; 1 second class and 22 third class Turnkeys and 1 second class Guard were dismissed for misconduct; 2 third class Turnkeys deserted and the services of 7 third class Turnkeys were dispensed with being found useless; 2 second class and 9 third class Turnkeys, 1 first class and 1 second class Guard and 1 Nurse of the female prison resigned their appointments; 1 first class Turnkey was invalided; 1 third class Turnkey and 1 Indian Sergeant were pensioned; 1 third class Turnkey was transferred to the Sanitary Department; 2 second class and 4 third class Turnkeys were promoted to the rank of first and second class Turnkeys respectively and 1 second class Guard died.
10. These figures I submit speak for themselves and clearly show how extremely unsatisfactory the condition of the staff was during the year and the necessity for placing it on a better footing without further delay. I was again obliged to ask for the services of some men of the garrison to act as turnkeys, but latterly I have been successful in obtaining a far superior class of men to fill the vacancies. I am glad to be able to report that this perpetual weeding out of the staff has been attended with good results and that the conduct of those serving at the end of the year has been generally satisfactory.
11. The Warden J. JONES retired on a pension on the 1st August. He was an energetic and conscientious officer and served in the prison service for 21 years.