10
93
such mischief
05
to
require
unusual
precautions against their landing
here, and I think that at
last the
appropriate
means of effecting
this have been in a
great
measure
applied
19.
As dealing with those criminal classes
here is one of the most serious responsibilities devolving on the local Government I propose
to advert to some of the leading features of the present system and speaking with increased experience,
I venture still to refer to my Despatch N° 160 of November last year as explaining the only true principles
#
which, apart from questions affecting European Prisoners, it is practicable to keep down crime here and deter persons
from visiting Hongkong for other than lawful purposes. I pointed out in that despatch that my predecessor, when advocating the construction
of a very large gaol at Stone Cutters Island, had dwelt on the extraordinary increase of crime here
as evidenced by the augmented number of prisoners in Victoria Gaol, which had risen in four years from 262 in 1858 to 520 in 1862, and I did not hesitate to attribute that increase mainly
to the little deterrent influence of imprisonment in a well kept Gaol with wholesome food, good lodging and light work, so
that with ample materials in our immediate vicinity for filling such Buildings,
a third Gaol would probably