Lyttelton not to either approve or disapprove,
and it is the Hind laid hold
2
I
or
point which is
a distorted by the House
By Commons. Or the while baba Re
Mq
he hill talis Mg Objection to it the permission. as an experiment (Pot. Draft submitted
27. Feb.
I think that the circumstances and
the fact that this form of punishment has proved effective as a deterrent, justify the experiment.
Lito
29/2.
I think this may
be deferred.
A-L.
4/3.
10.14.
Hongkong.
Foo
Sir,
C. O.
5201
Government House
13th January, 1904.
With reference to the last paragraph of
Sir Henry Blake's Despatch No. 506 of the 4th November last,
I have the honour to inform you that the steps recently taken
by the Government to cope with the lawlessness and crime
which have been conspicuous in the Colony during the past
year, have been attended by considerable success. The daily
average number of inmates of the Gaol has dropped from 824 in
October to 655 in December; and a return prepared in the
Magistrates' Department, of which I enclose a copy, shows an
improvement in larceny and kindred offences. The chief increase occurs under the heading of Rogues and Vagabonds, which
is explained by the fact that the Police have been specially
active in searching for and arresting that class of misdemeanants, who, as experience has shown are the class from which
more serious offenders are generally recruited.
The powers conferred upon the Governor-in-Council to deport undesirable persons from the Colony are
availed of in cases of convicted prisoners and others who are
known to the Captain Superintendent of Police and the Registrar-General as persons of bad character.
The Right Honourable
ALFRED LYTTELTON, K.C., M.P.,
&c. &c.