Appendix L.
PRISONS DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1938.
"I honestly believe that British justice in such a place as China makes prison almost Heaven."
This sentence was contained in a report by a Government Official who has served several years in the Far East.
When one looks at some of the terrible derelicts of humanity who pass through the imposing entrance of the Hong Kong Prison and into the spotless white-tiled shower-baths and changing rooms of the Reception Block and when one sees the well-cooked and carefully balanced rations being issued to these half-starved dregs of mankind, one wonders whether this great prison is not indeed Heaven to many of its Chinese inmates. And this is borne out by the number of prisoners who are banished to China on release and deliberately return to Hong Kong so as to be imprisoned again for contravention of the Deportation Ordinance. I have spoken with some of them; for instance, one who has deliberately returned from banishment several times: "What makes you come back when you know you will get caught and put into prison?" With a wave of the hand round the Printers Shop where he is employed: "Where can I do better than this?"
In fact, there could hardly be a prison properly administered under British rule which would not be "heaven" to the starved, filthy, ragged, scabious creatures, many with dysentery and enteritis and the awful derelicts of opium and heroin addiction, who swell the prison population of Hong Kong.
And what is the answer? The answer, I believe, is that most of them should not be in prison at all, but in some quiet settlement where they could live in the sun and grow a few vegetables.
I. GENERAL.
1. In 1937 Victoria Gaol and Lai Chi Kok Prison for men were closed down and all male prisoners were transferred to the new Hong Kong Prison at Stanley. At the beginning of 1938, therefore, there were only two prisons in the Colony, viz.: The Hong Kong Prison at Stanley for men and the Lai Chi Kok Prison for women.
2. The Hong Kong Prison at Stanley has been built with single cellular accommodation throughout (except for Hospital Wards) and was designed to accommodate a total of 1559 prisoners (exclusive of Hospital and Punishment Blocks). Accommodation for 23 European prisoners is included in this total.
3. On completion of the transfer of all male prisoners from Victoria Gaol and Lai Chi Kok Prison, there were 2,215 prisoners in the Prison at Stanley; by November 1937 this number had reached the high figure of 2,757. On 1st January, 1938, there were in the Prison 18 European, 8 Indian, and 2,313 Chinese prisoners—a total of 2,339. The highest number of male prisoners recorded in 1938 was 2,908 on 23rd December. On 31st December, the number was 2,848.
4. Thus, from the outset, the Hong Kong Prison at Stanley was grossly overcrowded and it has remained so ever since. In consequence, the whole object of constructing the prison with single cellular accommodation was defeated because it became necessary to accommodate a large number of prisoners three in a cell. This deplorable state of affairs still exists.
5. At the end of August, 1938, proposals for the reorganization of the Department with a view to a better classification and segregation of prisoners and to reducing the number of prisoners in the Prison were submitted to Government. Certain of these proposals were approved in October, and measures to put them into effect were begun before the end of the year. Little change can be expected immediately, but it is hoped that by 1940 the steps taken may show indications of improvement.
Appendix L.
PRISONS DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1938.
"I honestly believe that British justice in such a place as China makes prison almost Heaven.'
دو
This sentence was contained in a report by a Government Official who has served several years in the Far East.
When one looks at some of the terrible derelicts of humanity who pass through the imposing entrance of the Hong Kong Prison and into the spotless white-tiled shower-baths and changing rooms of the Reception Block and when one sees the well cooked and carefully balanced rations being issued to these half starved dregs of mankind one wonders whether this great prison is not indeed Heaven to many of its Chinese inmates. And this is borne out by the number of prisoners who are banished to China on release and deliberately return to Hong Kong so as to be imprisoned again for contravention of the Deportation Ordinance. I have spoken with some of them; for instance, one who has deliberately returned from banishment several times: "What makes you come back when you know you will get caught and put into prison?" With a wave of the hand round the Printers Shop where he is employed: "Where can I do better than this?"
In fact, there could hardly be a prison properly administered under British rule which would not be "heaven" to the starved, filthy, ragged, scabious creatures, many with dysentery and enteritis and the awful derelicts of opium and heroin addiction, who swell the prison population of Hong Kong.
And what is the answer? The answer, I believe, is that most of them should not be in prison at all, but in some quiet settlement where they could live in the sun and grow a few vegetables.
I. GENERAL.
1. In 1937 Victoria Gaol and Lai Chi Kok Prison for men were closed down and all male prisoners were transferred to the new Hong Kong Prison at Stanley. At the beginning of 1938, therefore, there were only two prisons in the Colony, viz: The Hong Kong Prison at Stanley for men and the Lai Chi Kok Prison for women.
2. The Hong Kong Prison at Stanley has been built with single cellular accommodation throughout (except for Hospital Wards) and was designed to accommodate a total of 1559 prisoners (exclusive of Hospital and Punishment Blocks.) Accommodation for 23 European prisoners is included in this total.
3. On completion of the transfer of all male prisoners from Victoria Gaol and Lai Chi Kok Prison there were 2,215 prisoners in the Prison at Stanley; by November 1937 this number had reached the high figure of 2,757,
On 1st January, 1938, there were in the Prison 18 European, 8 Indian and 2,313 Chinese prisoners—a total of 2,339.
The highest number of male prisoners recorded in 1938 was 2,908 on 23rd December. On 31st December the number was 2,848.
4. Thus, from the outset the Hong Kong Prison at Stanley was grossly overcrowded and it has remained so ever since. In consequence, the whole object of constructing the prison with single cellular accommodation was defeated because it became necessary to accommodate a large number of prisoners three in a cell. This deplorable state of affairs still exists.
5. At the end of August, 1938, proposals for the reorganization of the Department with a view to a better classification and segregation of prisoners and to reducing the number of prisoners in the Prison were submitted to Government. Certain of these proposals were approved in October and measures to put them into effect were begun before the end of the year. Little change can be expected immediately, but it is hoped that by 1940 the steps taken may show indications of improvement.
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