1887-1903
247
COLONIAL REPORTS—ANNUAL.
33
The population of the New Territory, which is exclusively Chinese, is estimated at 100,000.
The total expenditure in the Police Force on pay, pensions, and stores amounted in round figures to $350,000, or an average of (say) $1 per annum per head of population.
(B.) PRISON.
There is only one prison in the Colony-the Victoria Gaol.
It contains 421 cells on the separate system and 14 associated cells.
The prison is conducted entirely on the separate system, except when the numbers exceed 435.
The building of an additional ward, containing 78 separate cells, was commenced during the year.
The staff consists of a Superintendent, who is also Captain Superintendent of Police, an Assistant Superintendent, a Medical Officer, four Chaplains, a Chief Warder, 26 European and 44 Indian Warders.
The total number of prisoners committed to gaol during the year was 4,789, as against 5,427 in the previous year.
The daily average of prisoners confined in the gaol during the year was 434, as compared with 511 for 1898.
The average reports per prisoner for breaches of prison discipline was 5.66.
Penal labour consists in shot drill, stone carrying, and crank labour.
The progressive stage system is in force and industrial labour is utilised as much as possible.
The profits on industrial labour for the year amounted to over $16,000.
The total expenditure of the prison was $63,820.27.
CRIMINAL STATISTICS.
The following tables show the number of cases dealt with in the Police Magistrate's Court and by the Supreme Court: