Enclosure in Forerun Dose Hennepy's Despatch N.103 of 24 sets 1878
CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE DIETARY SCALE AND STRUCTURE OF THE HONGKONG PRISON.
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Papers laid before the Legislative Council, by Order of His Excellency the Governor, 15th October, 1878.
[No. 99.]
The Right Honourable the Earl of Carnarvon to His Excellency Governor Sir Arthur Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B.
DOWNING STREET,
5th November, 1875.
236
SIR,-I have had under my consideration, in relation to the outbreak of February last in the Singapore Gaol, the question of the propriety of subjecting prisoners to what is called "Penal Diet."
The conclusion at which I have arrived is that prisoners at hard labour ought not for any period to be confined to a diet of rice, salt, and water, or bread, salt, and water, as those articles do not, in my judgment, contain the elements of nutrition necessary for the sustenance of prisoners at hard labour; and I have to request that you will arrange for some addition to be made to the list of articles of diet supplied to prisoners during the period in respect of which they are now liable to be subjected to penal diet.
The addition need not be otherwise than distinctly moderate and I have to request that you will report to me, after consultation with the chief Medical Officer of your Government in what manner you propose to execute my instructions.
I have, &c.,
The Officer Administering the Government of
HONGKONG,
CARNARVON.
[No. 2.]
His Excellency Governor Sir Arthur Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the Right Honourable the Earl of Carnarvon.
GOVERNMENT House, HONGKONG, 3rd January, 1876.
MY LORD, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's Despatch, No. 99, of 5th November, 1875, on the subject of penal diet in the Singapore Gaol.
In reply thereto, I beg to transmit an extract from the Prison Rules at Hongkong, which explain themselves and from which your Lordship will observe that no prisoner is subjected to hard labour while undergoing penal diet. These rules have been in operation since 1872, and have been found to work well, and the general health of the prisoners exceptionally good.
I may remark that the penal diet proved to be a most deterring punishment to riotous and drunken sailors, with which our Gaol was at one period crowded.
With this exception, I shall defer making any alteration till I receive further instructions from your Lordship.
I have, &c.,
A. E. KENNEDY, Governor.
The Right Honourable
THE EARL OF CARNARVON,
[No. 100.]
Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, &C.
Fa
The Right Honourable the Earl of Carnarvon to His Excellency Governor Sir Arthur Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B.
DOWNING STREET,
29th July, 1876.
SIR, I have received your Despatch No. 99 of the 7th of June last, reporting that prisoners sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment or under are exempt from hard labour and are kept on pénal diet. I concur in the reasons which you have adduced in support of this practice, and I should be glad would transmit to me the Report of the Commission which has enquired into the dietary and discipline of the Hongkong Gaol, together with the evidence brought before it.
if
you
I have, &c.,
Governor Sir A. E. KENNEDY, K.C.M.G., C.B.,
&c.,
&c.,
&c.
CARNARVON.