CO129-121 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [3-4] — Page 389

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

386

The transfer of prisoners at Stave Cutters Island to Victoria Gaol, forming a Central penal establishment for all the Colonial Criminals.

In that Despatch I entered into details of the general system of what I may call the criminal administration of the Colony which appeared most applicable to its special and exceptional circumstances, though I was at the time only enabled to speak of the arrangements as "essentially experimental", but I am now entitled to describe them as eminently successful.

The total average number of prisoners maintained by the Colony, including several sentenced by the Military and others imprisoned by Sentence of the Shanghai Court and Consular Authority elsewhere, has for some time been rather under 300 than above it - a most remarkable decrease from the total to which the number of prisoners had risen in October 1865, a few months before my arrival here.

If, however, this decrease in the number of prisoners had arisen from some exceptional and partial cause, applicable only temporarily, as for example an indiscriminate release of prisoners - a most questionable and even unsound salutary principle - that decrease of nearly 45 per cent in the number of prisoners might be a positive detriment to the public interests.

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386 The transfer of prisoners at Stave Cutters Island to Victoria Gaol, forming a Central penal establishment for all the Colonial Criminals. In that Despatch I entered into details of the general system of what I may call the criminal administration of the Colony which appeared most applicable to its special and exceptional circumstances, though I was at the time only enabled to speak of the arrangements as "essentially experimental", but I am now entitled to describe them as eminently successful. The total average number of prisoners maintained by the Colony, including several sentenced by the Military and others imprisoned by Sentence of the Shanghai Court and Consular Authority elsewhere, has for some time been rather under 300 than above it - a most remarkable decrease from the total to which the number of prisoners had risen in October 1865, a few months before my arrival here. If, however, this decrease in the number of prisoners had arisen from some exceptional and partial cause, applicable only temporarily, as for example an indiscriminate release of prisoners - a most questionable and even unsound salutary principle - that decrease of nearly 45 per cent in the number of prisoners might be a positive detriment to the public interests.
Baseline (Original)
1 386 3. te hausfer The prisoners at Stave Cutters Island to Victoria Gaol, shin forming Central penal establishment for all the Colonial Cariviel 2. In that Despatch I entered into details of the general system of what I may call the criminal administration of the Colony which appeared most applicable to its special and exceptional circumstan was at the time havever ances Я enly enabled to speare of the AWLADA MALI laken as being "essentially experimental"," but I am now entitled to describe them successful. 3. The total average as eminently mumber of prisoners maintained by the Colony including several sentenced by the Military and exters imprisond Para. 25- by Sentence of stie Shanghai Court and... Consular Aucherity elsewhere has for sove time been rather under 300 than abou it a most remarkable decrease from the tatal te which the number of frisauers had of 296 to rism in Octolo 1865, a few martes before Any 4. arrical here. If however this decrease in the mumber of prisaims had arisen from exceptional an sans in its nature and partial in applicable only temporarily, as for example an indiscriminate release of prisoners M -fired salutary principle, that decrease of nearly 45 per cent in the mumle of puisaurs might be benefit, and even а 2 any questionable a positive delinment to The Public interests. DEX.
2026-05-19 17:33:41 · Baseline
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1

386

3.

te hausfer

The

prisoners at Stave Cutters

Island to Victoria Gaol, shin forming

Central penal establishment for all the Colonial Cariviel

2.

In that Despatch I entered into details of the general system of what I may call the criminal administration of the Colony which appeared most applicable to its

special and exceptional circumstan

was at the time havever

ances

Я

enly

enabled to

speare of the

AWLADA MALI

laken as

being

"essentially experimental"," but I am now

entitled to describe them

successful.

3.

The total

average

as

eminently

mumber of prisoners

maintained by the Colony including several

sentenced by the Military and exters imprisond

Para. 25-

by Sentence of stie Shanghai Court and...

Consular Aucherity

elsewhere has for

sove

time been rather under 300 than abou it

a most remarkable decrease from the tatal te which the number of frisauers had

of 296 to

rism in Octolo 1865, a few martes before

Any

4.

arrical here.

If however this decrease in the mumber of prisaims had arisen from

exceptional

an sans

in its nature and

partial in

applicable only temporarily, as for example an indiscriminate release of prisoners

M

-fired salutary principle, that decrease

of nearly 45 per cent in the mumle of

puisaurs might be benefit, and even

а

2

any questionable

a positive delinment to

The Public interests.

DEX.

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