The new prison, when completed, might accommodate 400 to 450 prisoners, together with governor's quarters, offices, accommodation for the staff, etc. It will contain cells for 400 to 450 prisoners.
The disadvantage of duplicating the staff is not as serious as has been suggested. Whenever the extra accommodation is utilised, additional warders must be employed, and the old prison, in its altered form, could be placed under an assistant superintendent or chief warder.
DRAFT.
MINUTE.
Mr. Wingfield.
Mr. Bramston.
Mr. Meade.
Sir R. Herbert.
Baron de Worms.
Lord Knutsford.
As regards the number of prisoners to be provided for, I have already dealt with the subject of the mendicants in my despatch No. 255 of the 4th inst., and I would again suggest that the number of debtors sent to prison in 1889 was 81, and I would again suggest that imprisonment for debt should be abolished in Hong Kong. No reason has been given why it should be retained in this colony in particular, and I cannot think that on reconsideration your...