}
ONFIDENTIAL.
Sir.
со
529
17437
Government House,
Hongkong, 26th. April, 1911.
With reference to my recent Des-
qo. 17191 -patches on the subject of serious crime, I may observe that
in my opinion and in that of the Captain Superintendent of
Police sentences of less than 5 years actual imprisonment
are of little use. Sentences of 3 years are reduced to 2
years under the mark system if the prisoner is well behaved
in Gaol, and it is well known that notorious criminals rely-
-ing in the shortness of the sentence inflicted by Hongkong
Courts are willing to run the risk of capture and threaten
their victims that if they give evidence against them they
will take a signal revenge on release after two or three
years. This renders the victims unwilling to give evidence
and so increases the difficulty of conviction. Prisoners on
the other hand who have a seven years sentence (viz.:- an
actual 5 years) or upwards are (the Captain Superintendent
of Police says) completely reformed. They learn a trade in
Gaol, and on release are eagerly sought after at good wages,
and the Captain Superintendent of Police can recollect no
instance LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P..
IGHT HONOURABLE