115
Colored prisoners only 7-or less than 1 per cent on the total of 754.
25. Therefore the Colonial Surgeon's opinion of the improbability of the health of the Prisoners being affected by their removal to Victoria Gaol is so far corroborated by the test of practical experience. At the same time the further test of next summer has to be encountered, whilst it is also impossible to foresee accurately what may be the rate of increase or diminution in the number of prisoners hereafter. Your Lordships will remember that the measure as yet is essentially experimental, and that Stine Cutters' Island Gaol is kept ready for occupation at 24 hours notice.
We have undertaken that experiment, amongst other reasons, because the Colony cannot afford in its present unfortunate state of financial embarrassment to maintain two large establishments if one will suffice; or to dispense with the labor which is profitable here but wholly useless at Stine Cutters' Island - especially as I recognize no obligation to establish penal reformatories here for Chinese Criminals on the English model, and must regard such policy as involving unfair expenditure of the limited funds of a Colony so peculiarly situated as Hong Kong.
27. I now enclose a return shewing the probable saving in the next 12 months resulting from moving the prisoners to