234 SUPPLEMENT TO THE HONGKONG GOV* GAZETTE OF 14п MAR., 1885.
sequel to the Police Court is hard labour. Destitutes can be given oakum to pick, thus lessening the cost of their keep. Perhaps in no other Casual Ward would it, without great expense, be possible to give bedding. Against this, however, must be set the repugnance a decent man feels "to have a key turned on him," as some of these unfortunates say.
8. The Casual Ward here could perhaps be in one of only three places, that is to say attached to the Gaol, the Central Police Station, or the Sailor's Home. If at the Sailor's Home, the consent of the Trustees would have to be obtained either to the conversion of part of the present building into a It Cusual Ward, or to a small addition to the premises, for which there is probably ample room. should consist of a room, furnished only with sloping boards for sleeping on, like those in a guard- room, or with Chinese bed-boards and tressels, or with bamboo beds, and with one or two solid fixed tables, and a few strong stools. There should also be a lavatory. The admission should be by ticket only, each ticket holding good for 24 hours. Tickets in books should be supplied free to
The Governor, The Colonial Secretary, The Harbour Master,
The Registrar General,
The Surveyor General,
The Treasurer,
The Magistrates,
The Superintendent of the Gaol,
but all other persons should be able to obtain them at even less than cost price, say 10 cents each, or $1 for each book of 10.* Some idea of the amount of accommodation required may be gained from the experience of a Sailors' Shelter maintained here during the past four years by subscription. Bamboo beds, light, and soap and water seem to have been all that was provided, with an occasional ticket for a meal elsewhere. On the average eight men per night have occupied this shelter, which bas afforded relief to about 160 different persons each year, the total expenses being as nearly as possible a dollar a day, including rent.
9. The diet should be the same as that allotted to European prisoners in the Gaol, which costs 15 cents per day each, and includes meat once in the twenty four hours. There would probably be no difficulty in arranging with the Compradore of the Sailor's Home to supply food on these conditions, and, so long as a man is costing the Government 15 cents a day, it does not much matter what building he is in. It would probably be necessary to allow the Superintendent of the Home about $20 a month for looking after the place. Strict cleanliness should be enforced by not allowing food to any man who had not done his share towards keeping it clean.
10. It may perhaps be objected that a Casual Ward at the Sailor's Home would too often become a source of disorder, noise, and riot, Such has not been the case at the voluntary refuge to which reference has been made. An occasional appeal to the police has sufficed to keep order, and, as there is a constable on duty at the Sailor's Home, and a Police Station immediately opposite, probably but little difficulty of the kind would arise. The next best place would be premises attached to the Gaol but not actually in it, or attached to the Central Police Station. Room might possibly be made at the Guol by reconstructing the prescut miserable Office there, which was probably some old house or stable existing on the site when the Gaol was built.
11. Destitutes other than seamen. The chief difficulty about this class of men is, that instead of getting shipped away without expense, they cost the Colony £15 to £20 each to obtain passages elsewhere, and even then other colonies object to have them. Enquiries should be made at Calcutta and San Francisco as to the legislation in force there with regard to the responsibilities of the masters of ships who bring destitutes. It will probably be found that in the ports named not only is the master of a ship compelled to take back on board any man who is destitute, but also anyone who is likely soon to become so. We should have similar legislation. It undoubtedly exercises a most wholesome check on the taking of destitutes to Calcutta.
12. Even with such precautions in force, the moment a destitute artisan or labourer presents himself in the Colony, the same imperative necessity arises as in the case of the sailor. He must bave bread to eat and a roof to cover him, at least till the next day, when perhaps better order can be taken for him. And here the proposed Casual Ward is again found necessary, for it would supply both. If it he urged that the artisan or labourer will stay in such an asylum for an indefinite period, it must be remembered that prison fare and a plank bed do not tend to invite a long stay anywhere, and there should also be a legal remedy against confirmed idlers and vagabonds, viz, to send them to bard labour.
* Since writing the above an excellent ticket system of the kind described has been started by voluntary organisation, the relief being given at the Temperance Hall. The expense however is much greater than that suggested above, cach destitute relieved costing at the rate of $6 a week,
SUPPLEMENT TO THE HONGKONG GOVT GAZETTE OF 14TH MAR., 1885. 235
13. Married destitutes are met with so seldom that it is not worth while to make any special provision for them. When such a case presents itself, the only thing to do would be to get the Colonial Surgeon or the Colonial Chaplain to find out, if possible, some decent people who would be willing to take in the man and his wife for a little while on moderate terms till better arrangements could be made.
14. As a good many of the community here are interested in this subject, it might possibly be worth while to print this report as an appendix to the Gazette. Its public discussion can hardly fail to elicit some useful suggestions. Printed copies might then be circulated to
The Harbour Master or Acting Harbour Master,
The Captain Superintendent of Police,
The Superintendent of the Gaol,
A. G. WISE, Esq.,
N. J. EDE, Esq.,
D. R. CRAWFORD, Esq.,
The Treasurer,
who might be asked to constitute a Board for the further consideration of the subject and for report upon it. Such a Board should be able to suggest means to settle the question for some time to come.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
The Honourable
W. H. MARSH, C.M.G.
Colonial Secretary.
Your obedient Servant,
A. LISTER, Treasurer.
Printed and Published by NORONHA & Co., Printers to the Hongkong Government, Nos. 5, 7, and 9, Zetland Street.
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