CO129-178 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [6-8] — Page 550

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

545

Acting Superintendent at once recommended me to appoint to the vacant post a European who had had no experience whatever of prison duties, and who, I ascertained to be a drunken loafer of bad character.

Another reason for the demoralization of the prison staff is perhaps to be found in the remarkable statements of the Gaol Committee to which I have drawn Your Lordship's attention more than once, to the effect that any attempt to reform Chinese prisoners in Hongkong should be regarded as hopeless, because the Gaol Officials were ignorant of the language, disposition and character of the Chinese.

It is not improbable that a prison system which deliberately excluded all idea of a reformatory or humanising element may have reacted almost as injuriously on the prison staff as on the criminals. Possibly also the excessive frequency of Corporal punishment, which the Gaol staff not only witnessed but had to administer, may have somewhat blunted their natural feelings and induced them to regard somewhat lightly mere acts

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4 545 Acting Superintendent at once recommended me to appoint to the vacant post a European who had had no experience whatever of prison duties, and who, I ascertained to be a drunken loafer of bad character. 5. Another reason for the demoralization of the prison staff is perhaps to be found in the remarkable statements of the Gaol Committee to which I have drawn Your Lordship's attention more than once, to the effect that any attempt to reform Chinese prisoners in Hongkong should be regarded as hopeless, because the Gaol Officials were ignorant of the language, disposition and character of the Chinese. 6. It is not improbable that a prison system which deliberately excluded all idea of a reformatory or humanising element may have reacted almost as injuriously on the prison staff as on the criminals. Possibly also the excessive frequency of Corporal punishment, which the Gaol staff not only witnessed but had to administer, may have somewhat blunted their natural feelings and induced them to regard somewhat lightly mere acts 7.

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4 545 Acting Superintendent at once recommended me to appoint to the vacant post a European who had had no experieuse whatever of prison duties, and who, I ascertained to be a In enquiry, drunken loafer of bad character. 5. · Another reason for the demoralization of the prison : staff is perhaps to be found in the remarkable statements of the Gaol Committee to which. I have drawn Your Lordship's attention more than to the effent M.x.. that any attempt to reform Chinese_ Hongkong should be. prisoners in Hongkong. regarded as hopeless, because the Gaol Officials were ignorant of... the language, disposition and... character of the Chinese. 6. It is not improbable: that a prison system which__ diliberately excluded all idea of a reformatory or humanising element may have reacted almost as injuriously the -prison staff as on the criminals. Possibly also the 7. eveissive frequency of Corporal... punishment, which the Gaol -staff not only witnesses but have to administer, may have some what blunted their natural feelings and induced them to regard somewhat lightly mere acts

2026-05-21 17:58:08 · Baseline

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545

Acting Superintendent at once recommended me to appoint to the vacant post a European who had had no experieuse whatever of prison duties, and who,

I ascertained to be a

enquiry,

drunken loafer of bad character.

· Another reason

for

the demoralization of the prison : staff is perhaps to be found in the remarkable statements of the Gaol Committee to which. I have drawn Your Lordship's attention

more than

to the

effent

M.x..

that

any attempt to reform Chinese_ Hongkong should be.

prisoners in Hongkong. regarded as hopeless, because the

Gaol Officials were ignorant of...

the language, disposition and...

character of the Chinese.

It is not improbable:

that a prison system which__ diliberately excluded all idea of a reformatory or humanising

element may have reacted

almost as

injuriously

the

-prison staff as on the criminals.

Possibly also the

eveissive frequency of Corporal... punishment, which the Gaol -staff not only witnesses but

have to administer,

may

have

some what blunted their natural feelings and induced them to regard somewhat lightly

CO129-178 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [6-8] — Page 550

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