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A-I should say that one reason is that in Hongkong it is such a nuisance to always summon a Justice of the Peace to assist in trying a case. From one point of view it would be inadvisable to call in an Official Justice of the Peace, and the Unofficials have always their day's work to do and naturally object to coming up. It would certainly be impracticable to call upon an Unofficial in all cases where flogging is the punishment as frequently as flogging is inflicted in the Gaol.
Q-Do you think it would be udvisable to keep every case requiring to be dealt with by flogging for the Visiting Justices every week?
A-No, it would be very inadvisable.
Q-Would it take too long?
A-Yes; in my opinion punishment in the Gaol should be inflicted promptly.
Q-Have you ever ordered a flogging without the sanction of the Surgeon?
A-No.
Q-Has the Surgeon in your time always delivered a written certificate of the prisoner's fitness to be flogged?
A-Always.
Q-Was the written certificate in force when you were at the Gaol from 1890 to
1891?
form.
A---I would not say for certain, but I think it was. I have always recollected a
Q-You do not recollect any change?
A-No, so I think it must have been in force.
Q-Were the certificates, so far as you remember, always filled up in one form? A--The only certificate given was if the prisoner was fitted for so many strokes ; if the Surgeon certified that the prisoner was fit it was all right.
Q-Have you ever objected to the way the Surgeon examined a prisoner?
A-No; I know nothing about that at all.
Q--Broadly speaking, would you undertake to govern Victoria Gaol and maintain strict discipline if you had not the power of ordering flogging?
A-No.
Q-What are your reasons?
A-I am afraid the results as regards discipline would be disastrous, I am under a general impression; I cannot go into details.
Q.-Would you be satisfied if the birch were substituted for the rattan and the present power of the Superintendent not interfered with?
A-I have no objection to trying the birch. I do not know anything about the birch; I have had no experience of it, and I cannot, of course, give any opinion on it.
Q--Do you think that the power of ordering floggings now vested in the Superintendent might safely be reduced to a maximum of six strokes if the rattan were retained.
A-No.
Q-Why not?
A—Six strokes is the ordinary number inflicted by the Superintendent.