HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
12. The gaol is all that can be desired in order and cleanliness, reflecting great credit upon the superintendent.
13. Various changes in dietary, and especially in the application of hard labour, have been effected within the year.
14. Your Lordship will observe from a Table in the Appendix, showing the number of prisoners in Victoria Gaol on the last day of each week of the year 1872, that the numbers have decreased from a maximum of 596 to a minimum of 371 on the 29th of December, 1872.
15. This result has been arrived at by rendering gaol life more deterrent to habitual criminals.
16. I would here draw your Lordship's attention to a comparative Table showing the number of offences, apprehensions, convictions, and acquittals for the last four years at page 170, Blue Book.
17. As this Table might possibly mislead, without some further information and explanation, I caused it to be referred to the police magistrates for their remarks, a copy of which I enclose (No.18, dated 8th July, 1873).
18. These gentlemen, who are very independent and competent judges, bear testimony to the fact that serious crime has greatly diminished, while they testify to the improved intelligence and organization of the police force. A drying closet has been obtained from England, and is in process of erection in the gaol, by which a great saving of labour and improvement of health will be effected.
Hospitals.
19. The hospital is perhaps in as satisfactory a condition as the state of an old and unsuitable building will permit. The Acting Colonial Surgeon reports the rate of sickness in the police force as lower than last year (1871), and the rate of mortality “remarkably low.” I think this satisfactory result is mainly attributable to the enlistment of a much more respectable and steadier class of men than have hitherto formed the police force.
20. I cannot controvert the Acting Colonial Surgeon's Report on the Tung Wa, or native hospital. There is much to amend, but there is also much relief given to a class of sufferers who would probably die miserably, rather than submit to European treatment where the knife is used. The native prejudice is infinitely greater than their ignorance in treating surgical cases, which the Acting Colonial Surgeon no doubt with reason condemns.
21. The Tung Wa Hospital is a first experiment; much may be done in the way of amendment by patience and good example, but rash intermeddling with the deep-rooted prejudices of the Chinese population could only result in mischief to an institution which is admitted to afford "comfortable quarters, with good food and clothing," to a large number of destitute sick. The general, and even scientific treatment of the sick in this hospital, is immeasurably superior to that which could be procured for the sick in remote districts during the famine in Ireland, of which I had the misfortune to see a good deal.
22. A judicious Colonial Surgeon may work a great reformation in the Tung Wa Hospital, by advice kindly given, and good example, followed up by the instruction of some young Chinese in the European system of treatment.
23. The Acting Colonial Surgeon's Report on the health of the
404
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
12. The gaol is all that can be desired in order and cleanliness, reflecting great credit upon the superintendent.
13. Various changes in dietary, and especially in the application of hard labour, have been effected within the year.
14. Your Lordship will observe from a Table in the Appendix, showing the number of prisoners in Victoria Gaol on the last day of each week of the year 1872, that the numbers have decreased from a maximum of 596 to a minimum of 371 on the 29th of December, 1872.
15. This result has been arrived at by rendering gaol life, more, deterrent to habitual criminals.
16. I would here draw your Lordship's attention to a comparative Table showing the number of offences, apprehensions, convictions, and acquittals for the last four years at page 170, Blue Book.
17. As this Table might possibly mislead, without some further information and explanation, I caused it to be referred to the police magistrates for their remarks, a copy of which I enclose (No. 18, dated 8th July, 1873).
18. These gentlemen, who are very independent and competent judges, bear testimony to the fact that serious crime has greatly diminished, while they testify to the improved intelligence and organization of the police force. A drying closet has been obtained from England, and is in process of erection in the gaol, by which a great saving of labour and improvement of health will be cffected.
Hospitals.
19. The hospital is perhaps in as satisfactory a condition as the state of an old and unsuitable building will permit. The Acting Colonial Surgeon reports the rate of sickness in the police force as lower than last year (1871), and the rate of mortality “remarkably "low." I think this satisfactory result is mainly attributable to the enlistment of a much more respectable and steadier class of men than have hitherto formed the police force.
20. I cannot controvert the Acting Colonial Surgeon's Report on the Tung Wa, or native hospital. There is much to amend, but there is also much relief given to a class of sufferers who would probably die miserably, rather than submit to European treatment where the knife is used. The native prejudice is infinitely greater than their ignorance in treating surgical cases, which the Acting Colonial Surgeon no doubt with reason condemns.
21. The Tung Wa Hospital is a first experiment; much may
be done in the way of amendment by patience and good example, but rash intermeddling with the deep-rooted prejudices of the Chinese population could only result in mischief to an institution which is admitted to afford "comfortable quarters, with good food and clothing, "to a large number of destitute sick." The general, and even scientific treatment of the sick in this hospital, is immeasurably superior to that which could be procured for the sick in remote districts during the famine in Ireland, of which I had the misfortune to see a good deal.
22. A judicious Colonial Surgeon may work a great reformation in the Tung Wa Hospital, by advice kindly given, and good example, followed up by the instruction of some young Chinese in the European system of treatinent.
23. The Acting Colonial Surgeon's Report on the health of the
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