CO129-193 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [5-7]

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4. The maximum period that may be remitted is not to exceed one-fourth of the prisoner's sentence, after deducting nine months from date of conviction.

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2 Years,

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If sentenced for

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to

Home Office for reference to the Chairman of the Directors of Convict Prisons, and I enclose a copy of the reply which has been received from Colonel HENDERSON, in the terms of which I entirely agree. Have accordingly to convey to you my approval of the proposed Regulations, and to instruct you give some notice to the Convicts that misconduct will, in addition to any special punishment awarded, involve such forfeiture of advantages already gained as may be determined on in each case.

I concur with Colonel HENDERSON in thinking that it would be convenient to adopt the Scale of remission now in force in England, a copy of which is annexed to his letter.

You will observe that this Scale does not differ much from that which accompanied Sir H. ROBINSON'S despatch of the 8th March.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

May be released at the end of

Proportion which admits of being remitted. Years. Months. Days. Years. Months. Days. 1 8 7 0 3 23 2 5 7 0 6 23 3 2 2 7 9 23 3 13 11 7 1 0 23 4 8 7 3 23 5 7 6 7 5 6 2 7 9 23 7 9 11 7 2 0 23 8 6 2 7 3 3 23 9 11 7 2 6 23 10 23 7 7 2 3 12 1 9 2 7 2 9 14 10 8 7 3 3 23 15 11 5 7 3 6

The Officer administering the Government of HONGKONG.

EDWARD CARDWELL.

5. As a further stimulus to industry, and with the view to deserving prisoners having a small sum of money on their liberation from Prison upon which they may maintain themselves honestly until they can obtain employment, the following Scale of gratuities may be granted to prisoners.

European Prisoners Chinese Prisoners 4th Class, 12 months - no gratuity. - no gratuity. 3rd Class $3.00 $1.50 2nd Class $4.50 $2.25 1st Class $7.50 $3.75 remainder of time $15.00 $7.50 Total

6. The amount of gratuity that may be earned and placed to the credit of any prisoner, is never to exceed $15 for European, and $7.50 for Chinese prisoners, which will be paid them under such restrictions as the Governor of the Colony may direct.

7. Prisoners are clearly to understand that these indulgences have been extended to them by Her Majesty's Government with a view to encourage and reward industry and good conduct, and that by committing any act of outrage, or escaping or attempting to escape from Prison, or being guilty of any other serious breach of the Prison rules, they will forfeit all claim to these benefits, in addition to such other punishment as may be awarded them.

By Order,

MR. HENDERSON TO MR. WADDINGTON.

45, PARLIAMENT STREET, 22nd May, 1865.

SIR,—I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 17th instant, transmitting for my perusal a letter from the Colonial Office forwarding copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hongkong submitting the new Regulations which have been prepared in reference to the remission of sentences passed on prisoners in that Colony, and I beg to report for the information of Secretary Sir GEORGE GREY, that the Governor of Hongkong appears to have entered quite into the spirit of the suggestions I made on the subject, and that I think the proposed Regulations may be approved. The Convicts, however, should be made clearly to understand that misconduct will, in addition to any special punishment awarded, involve such forfeiture of advantages already gained as may be determined on in each case.

For convenience of calculation, I would recommend that the Scale of remission now adopted in England under authority of your letter of 28th November, 1864, be adopted for the Colonies, and I enclose a copy for the information of Mr. Secretary Cardwell.

H. WADDINGTON, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

(Signed) E. G. W. HENDERSON.

MAXIMUM SCALE OF REMISSION FOR MALE CONVICTS SENTENCED TO PENAL SERVITUDE.

(Signed)

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 7th March, 1865.

W. T. MERCER,

Colonial Secretary.

Term of Sentence. Maximum period to be remitted. Years. Years. Months. 7 1 1 8 1 4 9 1 7 10 1 10

DECISION OF SECRETARY OF STATE.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EDWARD Cardwell, M.P., TO THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT OF HONGKONG.

No. 91.

DOWNING STREET,

1st June, 1865.

SIR, I have to acknowledge the receipt of Sir H. ROBINSON'S despatch No. 36 of the 8th March, submitting for my approval Amended Regulations which have been prepared in reference to the remission of Sentences passed on prisoners in Hongkong. I caused this despatch to be transmitted to the

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