X#2

STATISTICAL RETNRN FOR THE PRISONS OF HONGKONG FOR 1879,

Name and Nature

of the Prisona. (Whether

"Common Gaol,"

"Penitentiary," &0.)

Mere "Look-ups

not to be

inserted.

"Victoria Gaol,”- Common Gaol, House)

Number committed for Debt, Want of Ball,

and Punishment.

Total Number of Prisoners committed in 1879.

For Debt.

For safe Custody till Trial or for Want of Security.

For Purposes of Penal Im- prisonment.

Number of those

Committed who have been

previously Convicted.

Once.

Twice.

Number of Persons Committed to Penal Imprisonment,*

Including

"Penal Bervitude," (if that torm is used in the

Colony to describe any

Punishment.)

Thrice or more.

For Five Years or more.

For One Year or more, but less than Five Years.

For more than 3 Months,

and less than One Year.

For 3 Months or less.

The Daily Average Number in Prison.

The Daily Average Number on the Sick List,

The Number of Admissions to Hospital during the Year 1879,

The Number of Denike during 1879.

of Correction, also receives Prisoners sentenced to Penal Bervitude, &c.

8,669 22

440 3,207

205 101 82 85

129

909

2,674 576.13

16.878 864

Total.......

9,669 22

440 | 8,207 205 101

82

85

129

869

2,674 576.18

16.873 864

Here 111 up the coming

Oolong.

Men,

8,483 21

389 8,023 194

97

81

88

110

858

2,525 559.18

Woman,

184 1

44

89

+41

17

10

82 14

16.878 864

Juveniles,..

109

+

7

25

11

4 1

87 9.95

By "Penal Imprisonment" is meant Imprisonment inflicted as a substantive Punishment in pursuance of a sentence of a Court of

"Justios, as distinguished from Imprisonment for safe custody, &c.

THESE QUESTIONS ARE TO BE FILLED UP IN RESPECT OF EACH PRISON IN THE COLONY.

Questions.

I. If the Prison is on the separate system, is the separation complete? And if not, what is the separa- tion enforced by day and night respectively?

II. If not on the separate system, what provision is there for the supervision of the prisoners while in association?

- III. How many cells are there; and how many associated wards?”

IV. Taking the average number of prisoners in Gaol, how many cubic feet of space are there for each prisoner during the hours of sleep!

V. How are the prisoners classified?

Answers.

The Prison is not on the separate system, but the majority of the European prisoners, and a few of the Chinese are in separate cells at night.

Chinese and Indian prisoners are in association both day and night.

All the cells of the Prison have iron gates, through which the prisoners can be seen at night. While at labour or at exercise, the prisoners are constantly under the supervision of the Prison Officers.

There are 190 ordinary sleeping cells, 16 punish ment cells; and 4 wards in the Prison, only one of the latter is used by night. 89 cells are on the sepa- rate system, and 107 on the associated plan.

The daily average number of prisoners confined in the Gaol during the year 1879 was 578.13 and the cubic measurement of all the cells combined is 188,948 cubic feet, therefore giving a cubio space of 241,229 feet to each prisoner during the hours of sleep, pas- sages and corridors not included.

Forty six cells in the Gaol are set apart for the confinement of prisoners on the separate system. A the number of these cells is so limited they have only been utilised for the reception of old offenders. The effect of the system on Chinese prisoners has been most marked; of 108 old offenders who passed through them during 1879 only three returned again to the Gaol. According to the nature of their sentences, their nationality, and occasionally according to their habits and temperament, as follows, vis. :-

Europeana, Indians, and Chinese.

Debtors,

Misdemeanants,

Penal Servitude,

Prisoners on remand and for trial.