124
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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
VIII. CRIMINAL AND POLICE.
The total of all cases reported to the police was 9,562, being a decrease of 1,978 or 17.14 per cent., as compared with 1907. In the division of these cases into serious and minor offences there is a decrease in the former as compared with the previous year of 64 cases or 1.93 per cent.
The number of serious offences reported was 37 below the average of the quinquennial period commencing with the year 1904. The number of minor offences reported shows a decrease of 1,914, as compared with 1907, and was 1,515 below the average of the quinquennial period.
The total number of persons committed to Victoria Gaol was 4,778, as compared with 5,877 in 1907, but of these only 1,975 were committed for criminal offences, against 2,460 in 1907. Of committals for non-criminal offences there were 394 less under the Prepared Opium Ordinance and 139 less for infringement of Sanitary By-laws.
The daily average of prisoners confined in the gaol was 465, the average for 1907 being 502 and the highest previous average being 726 in 1904. The percentage of prisoners to population, according to the daily average of the former and the estimated number of the latter, was .14, as compared with .14, the average percentage for the last ten years.
Owing, however, to the large floating population which is constantly moving between the Colony and Canton the percentage of crime to population does not convey an accurate idea of the comparative criminality of the residents of the Colony. A large number of the riff-raffs and thieves of South China found their way to Hong Kong, and during the year 895 aliens were banished as undesirables—for the most part after conviction for crime.
The prison discipline was satisfactory, the average of punishments per prisoner being 1.27, as compared with 1.50 in 1907 and 1.21 in 1906.
The prison is managed on the English prison system as regards first offenders (star class prisoners) who are when at labour and when located for the night kept apart from old offenders.
Long-sentence prisoners serving two years and upwards are taught useful trades, including printing, book-binding, washing, carpentry, boot-making, net-making, painting, and white-washing, mat-making, tailoring, oakum-picking, &c. The profit on the work done was $45,420, as against $37,434 in 1907.
There was $5,012 received and credited to Government for non-Government work, against $5,790 in 1907.
In consequence of the low number of prisoners in custody at the beginning of the year it was found possible to close the branch prison.
The prison was considerably damaged in the typhoon of the 27th July. The work of repairing was immediately taken in hand by the Public Works Department and completed by the end of October.
124
18
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
VIII. CRIMINAL AND POLICE.
The total of all cases reported to the police was 9,562, being a decrease of 1,978 or 1714 per cent., as compared with 1907. In the division of these cases into serious and minor offences there is a decrease in the former as compared with the previous year of 64 cases or 1.93 per cent.
The number of serious offences reported was 37 below the average of the quinquennial period commencing with the year 1904. The number of minor offences reported shows a decrease of 1,914, as compared with 1907, and was 1,515 below the aver age of the quinquennial period.
The total number of persons committed to Victoria Gaol was 4,778, as compared with 5,877 in 1907, but of these only 1,975 were committed for criminal offences, against 2,460 in 1907. Of committals for non-criminal offences there were 394 less under the Prepared Opium Ordinance and 139 less for infringe- ment of Sanitary By-laws.
The daily average of prisoners confined in the gaol was 465, the average for 1907 being 502 and the highest previous average being 726 in 1904. The percentage of prisoners to population, according to the daily average of the former and the estimated number of the latter, was 14, as compared with '14, the average percentage for the last ten years.
Owing, however, to the large floating population which is constantly moving between the Colony and Canton the percent- age of crime to population does not convey an accurate idea of the comparative criminality of the residents of the Colony. A large number of the riff-raffs and thieves of South China found their way to Hong Kong, and during the year 895 aliens were banished as undesirables-for the most part after conviction for crime.
The prison discipline was satisfactory, the average of punish- ments per prisoner being 127, as compared with 1.50 in 1907 and 1·21 in 1906.
The prison is managed on the English prison system as regards first offenders (star class prisoners) who are when at labour and when located for the night kept apart from old offenders.
Long-sentence prisoners serving two years and upwards are taught useful trades, including printing, book-binding, washing, carpentry, boot-making, net-making, painting, and white-wash- ing, mat-making, tailoring, oakum-picking, &c. The profit on the work done was $45,420, as against $37,434 in 1907.
There was $5,012 received and credited to Government for non- Government work, against $5,790 in 1907.
In consequence of the low number of prisoners in custody at the beginning of the year it was found possible to close the. branch prison.
The prison was considerably damaged in the typhoon of the 27th July. The work of repairing was immediately taken in hand by the Public Works Department and completed by the end of October.
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