As the Government will have the power under the Ordinance to remove destitutes from the Colony at the expense of the master or other parties in default, it is most probable that many will be shipped off at once instead of being sent to the Work House, and I do not advise the establishing and building of one until the necessity for it has been clearly shown. It might be that the knowledge that such an institution exists in Hongkong would increase the evil we are seeking to combat.
While in the Work House, every vagrant is to be subject to the regulations with respect to:
a. Searching of his person;
b. Custody of his clothes;
c. Wearing a distinctive dress;
d. Personal cleanliness;
e. Hours, meals, and labour other than penal labour.
The Ordinance gives the Governor in Council power to modify these regulations. The Superintendent of the Work House shall forward weekly to the Harbour Master a list of such vagrants under his charge who are shipped.
Any vagrant refusing employment obtained for him may be punished by imprisonment with hard labour not exceeding one month. This might be extended to three months, which is the punishment for a rogue and vagabond.
The vagrant, or any person other than a Chinese, may enter into an agreement binding himself to embark on board a ship, and not to return to Hongkong for five years. And any person violating such agreement in any respect may be punished by imprisonment with hard labour for a period not exceeding 6 months.
If, after the lapse of a reasonable time, no suitable employment has been found for the vagrant, he may be removed from...