418
252
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
PAPERS RELATING TO
During that year the cases taken before the summary court numbered 8,708, and the daily average of prisoners in gaol was 541, but in 1873 when the system of penal labour and diet in gaol was exchanged for the practice which had previously existed of employing the prisoners on public works about the town, there was a great decrease, and in 1874 the cases at the summary court fell to 6,618, whilst the daily average of prisoners was reduced to 350.
Improved police administration had, doubtless, considerable influence in thus diminishing the number of prisoners, but there is little doubt that to the deterrent effect of the altered system of gaol discipline we chiefly have the results which have been obtained, doubtless, by this withdrawal of prison labour from the roads; the outlay under this head has been increased, but the saving at the gaol fully compensates the Colony for this, and we may therefore congratulate ourselves on the attainment of so great a benefit, as the diminution of crime without any pecuniary sacrifice whatsoever.
I observe that in paragraph 4 of his report the captain superintendent of police draws attention to the public execution of criminals, and deprecates a continuance of the practice. In consequence I think it right to point out that in 1868 Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, Sir Julian Pauncefote, Mr. Rennie, and myself fully considered the question in council, and came to the conclusion "that any change in the mode of carrying out capital sentences appeared uncalled for by any local necessity and was inexpedient.
Post Office.
The statements submitted in the Postmaster General's Report show a decrease of $5,688.97 in the gross revenue of 1874 as compared with that of 1873, but it is satisfactory to observe that notwithstanding the falling off the postal revenue of 1874 has exceeded the expenditure by $29,383.36 (6,121 10s. 8d.).
The events of interest which have taken place in the postal service during 1874 are as follows:-
1st. The whole of the postal agencies in Japan and China have been thoroughly inspected.
2ndly. The Government of Queensland having established a mail service between Singapore and Brisbane the correspondence for that Colony and New South Wales is now sent viâ Singapore and Torres Straits, but all letters to the other Australian Colonies are still forwarded viâ Galle.
3rdly. No less than six steamers carrying mails have been lost during the past year, viz. :-
The French steamer "Nil," bound to Japan with local and home mails.
The United States packet "Japan," with mails from America and Japan to Hong Kong.
The private steamers "Sunfoo" and "Albany," with local mails from the Straits and Manilla.
418
252
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
PAPERS RELATING TO ·
During that year the cases taken before the summary court numbered 8,708, and the daily average of prisoners in gaol was 541, but in 1873 when the system of penal labour and diet in gaol was exchanged for the practice which had previously existed of employing the prisoners on public works about the town, there was a great decrease, and in 1874 the cases at the summary court fell to 6,618, whilst the daily average of prisoners was reduced to 350.
Improved police administration had, doubtless, considerable in- fluence in thus diminishing the number of prisoners, but there is little doubt that to the deterrent effect of the altered system of gaol discipline we chiefly have the results which have been obtained, doubtless, by this withdrawal of prison labour from the roads; the outlay under this head has been increased, but the saving at the gaol fully compensates the Colony for this, and we may therefore congratulate ourselves on the attainment of so great a bencfit, as the diminution of crime without any pecuniary sacrifice whatsoever.
I observe that in paragraph 4 of his report the captain superintendent of police draws attention to the public execution of criminals, and deprecates a continuance of the practice. In consequence I think it right to point out that in 1868 Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, Sir Julian Pauncefote, Mr. Rennie, and myself fully considered the question in council, and came to the conclusion "that any change in the mode of carrying out capital "sentences appeared uncalled for by any local necessity and was
inexpedient.
Post Office.
The statements submitted in the Postmaster General's Report show a decrease of $5,688 97 in the gross revenue of 1874 as compared with that of 1873, but it is satisfactory to observe that notwithstanding the falling off the postal revenue of 1874 has exceeded the expenditure by $29,383 36 (6,1217 10s. 8d.).
TM
The events of interest which have taken place in the postal service during 1874 are as follows:-
1st. The whole of the postal agencies in Japan and China have been thoroughly inspected.
2ndly. The Government of Queensland having established a mail service between Singapore and Brisbane the correspondence for that Colony and New South Wales is now sent viâ Singapore and Torres Straits, but all letters to the other Australian Colonies are still forwarded viâ Galle.
3rdly. No less than six steamers carrying mails have been lost during the past year, viz. :-
The French steamer "Nil," bound to Japan with local and
home mails.
The United States packet " Japan," with mails from America
and Japan to Hong Kong.
The private steamers "Sunfoo" and "Albany," with local
mails from the Straits and Manilla.
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