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RULES AND REGULATIONS
For the Management of the Gaol at Victoria, Hongkong, and for the Guidance of its Officers; made by the Governor in Executive Council, under Section 6 of Ordinance 10 of 1858, and Section 17 of The Prison Ordinance, 1885,
this 18th day of November, 1885.
1.-The officers of the Gaol shall be :-One Superintendent, one Surgeon, and such Chaplains and such subordinate Officers as the Governor may from time to time appoint. The Superintendent shall reside in the prison.
2.-The Superintendent may punish any subordinate officer for misconduct, or neglect or breach of duty, by a fine not to exceed Ten Dollars, or by degradation to a lower rank and pay. He shall enter any such exercise of authority in his Journal, and also in the Officers' Misconduct Book, and report the same without delay to the Governor. He may apply all Fines to the general good of the officers in such manner as may be approved by the Governor.
3.-The Superintendent may not grant more than one week's vacation or sick leave without authority from the Governor.
4.-The Superintendent shall frequently test the quality and quantity of the rations supplied to the prisoners, and should any deficiency in either be discovered, he shall note the same in his Journal, call on the Contractor to make it good, and, if he considers it necessary, report the same to the Governor.
5. The Superintendent shall occasionally visit the prisoners at their meals, and shall enquire into any complaint that may be made to him regarding their food.
6.-The Superintendent shall use his discretion in bringing to the notice of the Governor the case of any child of tender years who may be sentenced to imprisonment, and carry out the Governor's instructions concerning such child.
7-The Superintendent shall use his best endeavours to assist in the identification of prisoners, and with that object shall furnish to the Police any information in his power.
8.-The Superintendent shall, when present, invariably accompany the Visiting Justices in their visits of inspection to the prison, shall inform them of any prisoner who wishes to see them, and shall otherwise assist them so far as he is able. During the inspection of the Gaol either by Visiting Justices, or by the Governor or any other officer of rank, the prisoners should not be taken off their usual work or ordered to stand at attention. Every facility, however, must be given to those who wish to communicate with the officers inspecting, and the Superintendent will see that due opportunities are provided.
9.-The Superintendent shall take care that the Notice Board required by Ordinance to be placed in some conspicuous place outside the Prison, cautioning persons against bringing spirits, opium, tobacco, money, letters, or other prohibited articles into the prison, is duly maintained.
10.-The Superintendent will, with the Warden, enforce the highest possible degree of cleanliness in every part of the prison, in the persons of the prisoners, their clothes and bedding, and see that the bedding and clothing are all in proper repair.
11. The Superintendent shall deliver daily to the Surgeon a list of prisoners in Solitary Confinement, and of such as may have complained of sickness, sores, or any other ailment, without any exception, whether he thinks such complaint groundless or not; also a list of prisoners who have recently suffered, or are about to suffer, corporal punishment, or solitary confinement; and shall call his attention to any case of insanity or apparent insanity occurring among the prisoners.
12.-The Superintendent shall take every precaution to prevent fire, or the escape of prisoners; and shall cause all the wards, cells, bolts, bars, and locks of the Gaol to be thoroughly examined daily.
13.-The Superintendent shall cause to be fully explained to every officer his general duties, and especially those required of him in case of fire, or in case of any attempt to escape made by either a single prisoner, or several in concert.
14.-The Superintendent shall take proper and discreet means to ascertain that no visitors to prisoners bring into the Gaol anything not permitted by the Rules of the Gaol, or, in his opinion, objectionable. To secure this as far as possible, he will on no account allow the employment of prisoners as servants by any officer of the Gaol.
15.-The Superintendent or, in his absence, the Warden may, on reasonable grounds of suspicion, require that visitors to prisoners be searched in his presence, except in the case of females, who shall be searched in a private room by the Matron. Should such visitors refuse to be searched, or to give their names and addresses, he may refuse them admittance.
16.-The Superintendent shall see that the proper number of prisoners required by the Surveyor General for the Public Works are sent out at the proper time, with a sufficient number of well-armed officers for their safe custody, and he shall occasionally visit them while at work.
17. The Superintendent may permit any respectable person to view the Gaol at reasonable hours, accompanied by an officer, who shall caution such visitor against conversing with any prisoner.
18. The Superintendent shall pay attention to the ventilation, drainage, and sanitary condition of the prison, and take such measures as may be necessary for their being maintained in