PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference: TPERFIC.O. 133
Page 177 [550.]
Into watches and each performs two and a half hours night duties in the Gaol.
With reference to Question 17. In the months of February and March an epidemic of yellow fever was prevalent amongst the Chinese prisoners and also amongst the Chinese population in town, and to such an extent had the death rate increased that the Governor ordered a Sanitary Commission composed of the most experienced Medical Officers, the Colonial Surgeon, to inquire into and report as to the causes, and it is gratifying to know that the result of the investigation proved that the disease did not originate in the Gaol but was imported, and although originally the percentage of deaths in Gaol was large, it was considerably less than in the Town; the disease was solely confined to Chinese.
During the past year a certain malady appeared in Gaol amongst the Chinese prisoners only, in the form of ulceration of feet, legs, and almost of an epidemic which after a strict investigation into the cause thereof by the Stipendiary Magistrate and Colonial Surgeon was traced to malingering on the part of the prisoners themselves in order to avoid the hard work introduced by the establishment of the Chain Gang Guards.
This discovery, I am happy to report, almost disappeared, and with the introduction of a new and light leg iron from England, increased vigilance on the part of the staff, and the punishment inflicted for malingering will, I trust, prevent its evil. With the exception of the diseases referred to above, the health of the officers and prisoners has been very good.
For 19. I am happy to state the general conduct of the prisoners has been very good and no ... although the number of prisoners confined has been great and from nearly all parts of the world.
No fault on officers has been ... no prisoner escaped from the Gaol, but a few Chinese from the road-parties which principally occurred when the convicts were under the supervision of Indian Constables; this has been partially remedied by the establishment of a Chain Gang Guard composed of West Indian Negroes who act under the orders of the Gaol Authorities whereby a greater amount of work is obtained from the prisoners and more security obtained in the prison at night, as the guard sleep in the prison which was not the case when the guard was furnished by the Police Department.
The establishment of this Guard must be also considered an economical step as the men are hired in the Colony whereas the Indian Constables were procured in Bombay and had to be sent back there at the expiration of their service.
And with reference to the effects of whipping prisoners both in public and in private, after the experience of the past two years, I am convinced that it has a most deterrent effect upon them, and when combined with the system of branding and deporting, those habitual offenders, has had the favourable result of expelling from the Colony a most dangerous class of offenders who were daily brought to Hong Kong by the ... of cheap ...
The operation of branding offenders may be described as follows: to prevent any false impression being arrived at with regard to its being injurious, a prisoner undergoing a long term of imprisonment is well known to the Police and in ... to be a dangerous character ... restrictions ... disappearance of ... living when out of Gaol and by ... a Rogue and Vagabond, it is ... in many instances applies to be allowed to go to the district where he may belong, and as a proof that he will not return to Hong Kong, he consents to be branded also, this is done by the Governor ... when sanctioned by ... by pricking the skin with common needles dipped in Indian ink as sailors frequently have themselves tattooed, and it is worthy of remark that out of about 90 who have been allowed to leave the Colony only a few (prior to 1867) have been reapprehended.
By this means this shows the number of prisoners in the Colony has been reduced from 111 to 90, enabling His Excellency the Governor to do away with the Convict Establishment at Stone Cutter's Island, besides the additional advantage to the Public in general as robbing from the person and offences of a like nature have considerably diminished.
The Rules and Regulations of the prison have been properly carried out as circumstances would permit and any dereliction from which has been duly reported.
(signed) A. Douglas,
Superintendent of Victoria Gaol.
Page 185
Page 186
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :----
TPERFIC.O. 133
23
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NUT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE, LONDON]
177
[550.]
into walities and each performs two and a half hans night dutyz
in the Gaol.
Aw
With reference to Question 17. In the maits of t
of Fehmary and March
epidermie of yellow fever nas prevalent aurongst the Chinese prisoners and also amongst the Chinese population in know, and to auch an volent had the deart sate increased that this Couthmey the bovenor ordered a Sanitary, the Cammikian composed of the most reperienced. Medical Officem, Colorry to inquire inte and report as to the cause strings, and it is, gratifying to know that the usult of the investigation proved that the disease did not gigivate in the Cast but was inhidund, and although
originals the percentage of deaths in Gach was large, it was considerably lef than in the Toon; the disease reas solity confined to Chinese.
During the past year
car ancortin malady appeared in Gaol amongst
"get the Chinese prisoners only, in the form of uleration of feet, legs, and almost ofured. the rolent of an epidemic which
ofter a stucit investigation into the cause there of by the Solier Magistrate and Colonial Singson was traced to malinguring on the part of the presovers themselves in order to avoid the hard worst introduced by
the Establishment of the
Gang
れ込む
Chain
Quards
This discorebas. I ginhappy to report, almost disappeared, and with the introduction of a new and light leg iron from England increased vigilance on the part of the staff, and the punishment inflicted
malingering
will Thrust freeint
of it is evil. With the exception of the diseases referred to wiition, the health of the offices and prisoners has been very good.
for
19.
had
"I am happy to state the genral conduct of the pris been any good and no bun ung Jalihough the number of prisoners carfined bak lefort difficulty has been experienced in maintaining since the Porcist Establishment was abolished has been great and. from nearly all parts of the would.
Mo
has
apaulty on Officers have been mods
frisoner escaped from the East, but a few Chinese from the Rood-parties which frincipally occured when the Courich were under the super. what
Convicts vision of Minder Constables; this has been partially runedied by the establishment of a Chain. Gang Guard composed of West Indian Nego. who act myder the orders of the Gabe Authorites wherely a greater amount of worst is obtained from the prisoner and more security oblained in the friser at night, as the Guard sleep in the puson nwhich
was not the case when the Guard was furnished by the Police Department.
economical step
Mau
The establishment of this Guard must be also considered an
as the men are hired in the Colony whereas the Hinder Constable was pro cured in Bombay and had to be sent back there at the expiration of then survid.
and
[3/3
both in publis
With references to the effects of whipping prisoner both in
1
upon
I am convinced
who ans
private after the experience of the past two year that it has a most delerent effes afron line, and when confined wich the system of branding and departing, those puis. habitual offenders, has had the fargable result of expelling from the Colony a most dangerous play of of offenders who were daily brought to Hangriing by the
of cheap Blean cory Cantart.
ication from the in. prefentation of branding findorers may be described as follais,
grant and Distint
best
the treaus n
any false impreficent inay be arrived at with regard to its being
injuria a frisad
under going along lean of imprisonment is well A prusack under jugan for the man. Known to the Police and in Cast te bo a_dangan chargeur rictions disparition of Earring an heves living when out of Earl and by sucision a Rogue and Vagabond, it is man by pretition fin cony instances applies to be allowed to go to the district
where be may beling te, and as
beling ts, and as a proof that he will not return to Hongtang, dot's to be branded also, this le de verbranded Govenor is presen the lobe of the when when sanctioned by ite ed by printing the
cammon needles dipped in Indian int ae sailors frequeerty have therpselen tattooed, and it is wority of remark that art of about 90 who have this been allowed to leave the Colony only & fufe to the elmary 1867) have been reapprehended
By thing Poy this shows the number of prisoners in the Colary has bee reduced from Ell to $90, mabling this Eescellency the Governor to do away
left
LAA.
Lov
with a f
522
perform
with the Corvint Establishment at Stone Cutter's Island, besides the additional advantage to the Public in general as Robbing from the premsan and offences of a like native have considerably diminished.
The Rules and Regulations of the fuison have been properly as circumstances, would permit and...
-any dereliction
canied out as well
from which has been duly reported.
(signed) A: Douglas,
Superintendent of Victoria Gaol.
Page 185Page 186
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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