SGC
(Enclosure 5.)
To the Chairman,
GAOL ACCOMMODATION COMMITTEE.
(Enclosure 6.)
RETURN of PRISONERS confined in VICTORIA GAOL on the 14th April, 1886.
Hongkong, 30th April, 1886,
Your Sub-Committee appointed to report on the present diet in Victoria Gaol met at 5.30 p.m. this day.
Present - Major-General GORDON, Chairman.
Dr. AYRES. Dr. MANSON.
1. The Sub-Committee examined the diet scales as were established. Compared them with those of other Colonies and also took evidence as to the usual diet of coolie labourers in this Colony.
2. The Sub-Committee next proceeded to consider the dietary scale of Chinese male prisoners sentenced to Penal Servitude. They consider the diet for this class of Prisoners is much in excess of requirements for health. They specially observe that Chinese Prisoners of this class, while receiving better diet all round in Victoria Gaol than in Singapore Gaol, are further supplied with 16 ounces of pork a week here, as against 4 ounces a week in Singapore. The Sub-Committee recommend that the pork ration to this class of Prisoners be reduced to one issue of 4 ounces per week to be issued on Sundays.
3. With reference to the diet scale of Chinese Prisoners sentenced to over six months including Penal Servitude Prisoners (Scale No. 1.) the Sub-Committee recommend that the issue of fresh fish be reduced from 6 to 4 ounces three times a week.
4. With reference to the diet scale of Chinese Prisoners sentenced to 6 months and under (Scale No. 2.) the Sub-Committee consider the diet ample, but not excessive and they do not recommend any change.
5. The same as regards No. 3 Scale for Female and Juvenile Prisoners.
6. As regards No. 4 Scale the number of Prisoners receiving this scale is very small and Debtors' subsistence is paid for without cost to Government. No change is therefore recommended.
7. Numbers 5 and 6 scales of Penal and reduced Penal diet appear suitable and should not be altered.
8. As regards No. 7 or Punishment diet scale, the Sub-Committee find that this scale is throughout British Dominions fixed at 1 lb. of bread per diem for Europeans. 11 ounces of uncooked rice weighing about 24 ounces when cooked, are equal in percentage of nutriment to 1 lb. of bread and considering that the average weight of a Chinaman is below that of a European the Committee are of opinion that 12 ounces of uncooked rice would be a most ample equivalent and strongly recommend that 12 ounces of rice be the maximum of punishment diet scale for all Chinese Prisoners.
9. The Sub-Committee further recommend that some tentative measures be adopted experimentally to substitute other vegetables such as sweet potatoes or millet for rice, which experiments could be tried on a limited number of Prisoners under the supervision of the Medical Officer, and Superintendent.
10. In recommending the introduction of these dietary changes, the Sub-Committee taking into consideration the condition of the Gaol and the circumstances stated in the Superintendent's Report for 1885 para. 16 must record their opinion that such changes cannot perhaps be carried out without some risk of disturbance and insubordination on the part of Prisoners, and keeping in view the vital importance of maintaining discipline in this establishment they recommend that simultaneously with the introduction of reductions in diet the hands of the Superintendent should be strengthened by increased disciplinary powers.
11. Superintendents of Gaols in Ceylon and the Straits Settlements have power to try prisoners summarily and award a corporal punishment of 12 strokes. The Sub-Committee consider it very necessary, in carrying out the changes recommended, that similar powers should be vested in the Superintendent of Victoria Gaol.
Such powers were given him by para. 6 Ordinance No. 4 of 1863, but were suspended by Governor Sir J. POPE HENNESSY on 5th June, 1877.
A. GORDON, Chairman.
PH. B. C. AYRES, Colonial Surgeon.
Patrick Manson, M.D.
Europeans Indians Chinese Total Sentenced to Penal Servitude of 5 Years and upwards, Sentenced to Penal Servitude of 3 Years and under 5 Years, 5 2 142 149 Sentenced to 2 Years and under 3 Years, 44 0 45 89 Sentenced to 1 Year and under 2 Years, Sentenced to 6 Months and under 12 months 39 1 60 100 Sentenced to 3 Months and under 6 Months, 40 0 64 104 Sentenced to 1 Month and under 3 Months, 6 1 114 121 Sentenced to less than 1 Month, 12 0 103 115 On Remand, for Trial, &c., 14 0 110 124 For Debt, 0 0 19 19 1 2 24 27 TOTAL 677 732(Enclosure 7.)
Statement of Dr. Ayres,
Saturday 17th April, 1886.
Present: All Members of the Commission, except Honourable ALFRED LISTER.
Dr. AYRES, - I have been Surgeon to the Gaol since November, 1873.
I think the punishment diet in the Gaol could well be reduced from 1 lb. of uncooked rice to 12 oz. of uncooked rice.
Persons committed to prison in default of finding security get full diet: that could be reduced.
I think it could be reduced to 1 lb. uncooked rice.
In India for all petty offences whipping is allowed varying from 5 to 20 strokes of the rattan on the breech.
All sentences of whipping are subject to the opinion of the Medical Officer that the offender is able to bear it. It worked well all the time I had to do with prisoners in India.
We never had or heard of any trouble in connection with whipping.
I have recommended whipping here for petty offences.
Separate or Solitary confinement is a severe punishment for Chinamen.
There has been no trouble with respect to the health of the men sentenced to solitary or separate confinement.
I am not aware that whipping in India has been abolished.
I have not gone into the several methods of Chinese punishments and I cannot say whether there are any which could be introduced here.
The separate system would I think be the most severe kind of punishment for Chinamen.
I do not think you can do without whipping.
Separate confinement reduces the man.
In England you have often to relieve the prisoner from solitary confinement.
I think for the identification of prisoners and those sent back to China more recourse should be had to photography and perhaps a small tattoo mark in some place where it would not be easily seen, the inside of the arm for instance.
11
553
SGC
(Enclosure 5.)
To the Chairman,
GAOL ACCOMMODATION COMMITTEE.
(Enclosure 6.)
RETURN of PRISONERS confined in VICTORIA GAOL on the 14th April, 1886.
!
Hongkong, 30th April, 1886,
Your Sub-Committee appointed to report on the present diet in Victoria Gaol met at 5.30 e... this day.
Present -Major-General GORDON. Chairman.
Dr. AYRES. Dr. MANSON.
1. The Sub-Committee examined the diet scales as were established. Compared them with those of other Colonies and also took evidence as to the usual diet of coolie labourers in this Colony.
2. The Sub-Committee next proceeded to consider the dietary scale of Chinese male prisoners sentenced to Penal Servitude. They consider the diet for this class of Prisoners is much in excess of requirements for health. They specially observe that Chinese Prisoners of this class, while receiving better diet all round in Victoria Gaol than in Singapore Gaol, are further supplied with 16 ounces of pork a week here, as against 4 ounces a week in Singapore. The Sub-Committee reconimend that the pork ration to this class of Prisoners be reduced to one issue of 4 ounces per week to be issued on Sundays.
3. With reference to the diet scale of Chinese Prisoners sentenced to over six months including Penal Servitude Prisoners (Scale No. 1.) the Sub-Committee recommend that the issue of fresh fish be reduced from 6 to 4 ounces three times a week.
4. With reference to the diet scale of Chinese Prisoners sentenced to 6 months and under (Scale No. 2.) the Sub-Committee consider the diet ample, but not excessive and they do not recommend any change.
5. The same as regards No. 3 Scale for Female and Juvenile Prisoners.
6. As regards No. 4 Scale the number of Prisoners receiving this scale is very small and Debtors subsistence is paid for without cost to Government. No change is therefore recommended.
7. Numbers 5 and 6 scales of Penal and reduced Penal diet appear suitable and should not be altered.
S. As regards No. 7 or Punishment, diet scale, the Sub-Committee find that this scale is throughout British Dominions fixed at 1 tb. of bread per diem for Europeans. 11 ounces of uncooked rice weighing about 24 ounces when cooked, are equal in per centage of nutriment to 1 lb. of bread and considering that the average weight of a Chinaman is below that of a European the Committee are of opinion that 12 ounces of uncooked rice would be a most ample equivalent and strongly recommend that 12 ounces of rice be the maximum of punishment diet scale for all Chinese Prisoners.
9. The Sub-Committee further recommend that some tentative measures be adopted experimentally to substitute other vegetables such as sweet potatoes or millet for rice, which experiments could be tried on a limited number of Prisoners under the supervi sion of the Medical Officer, and Superintendent.
10. In recommending the introduction of these dietary changes, the Sub-Committee taking into consideration the condition of the Gaol and the circumstances stated in the Superintendent's Report for 1885 para. 16 must record their opinion that such changes cannot perhaps be carried out without some risk of disturbance and insubordination on the part of Prisoners, and keeping in view the vital importance of maintaining discipline in this establishment they recommend that simultaneously with the introduction of reductions in diet the hands of the Superintendent should be strengthened by increased disciplinary powers.
11. Superintendents of Gaols in Ceylon and the Straits Settlements have power to try prisoners summarily and award a corporal punishment of 12 strokes. The Sub- Committee consider it very necessary, in carrying out the changes recommended, that similar powers should be vested in the Superintendent of Victoria Gaol.
Such powers were given him by paru. 6 Ordinance No. 4 of 1863, but were suspended by Governor Sir J. POPE HENNESSY on 5th June, 1877.
A. GORDON, Chairman.
PH. B. C. AYRES, Colonial Surgeon. Patrick Masson, M.D.
Europeans.
Indiaus. Chinose. Total.
Sentenced to Penal Servitude of & Years and upwards,.......
Sentenced to Penal Servitude of 3 Yoars and under 5
Years,
5
2
142
149
44
45
Sentenced to 2 Years and under 3 Years,
Seuteneed to 1 Year and under 2 Years,....................
Sentenced to 6 Months and under 12 months...
Sentenced to 3 Months and under 6 Months,
Sentenced to 1 Month and under 3 Months,
Sentenced to less than 1 Month,
39
40
60
64
G
114
120
12
103
115
14
110
126
19
24
On Remand, for Trial, &c.,
For Debt,
2
42
44
1
5
31
TOTAL...
(Enclosure 7.)
Statement of Dr. Ayres,
+
677
732
Saturday 17th April, 1886.
Present:All Members of the Cominission. except
Honourable ALFRED LISTER.
Dr. AYRES,-I have been Surgeon to the Gaol since November. 1873.
I think the punishment diet in the Gaol could well be reduced from 1 tb. of un- cooked rice to b. of uncooked rice.
Persons committed to prison in default of finding security get full diet: that could be reduced.
I think it could be reduced to 1 lb. uncooked rice.
In India for all petty offences whipping is allowed varying from 5 to 20 strokes of the rattan on the breech.
All sentences
The ordinary Chinaman is as well able to bear whipping as the Indian.
of whipping are subject to the opinion of the Medical Officer that the offender is able to bear it. It worked well all the time I had to do with prisoners in India.
We never had or heard of any trouble in connection with whipping.
I have recommended whipping here for petty offences.
Separate or Solitary coutinement is a severe punishment for Chinainen.
There has been no trouble with respect to the health of the men sentenced to soli-
tary or separate confinement.
I am not aware that whipping in India has been abolished.
I have not gone into the several methods of Chinese punishments and I cannot say
whether there are any which could be introduced here.
The separate system would I think be the most severe kind of punishment for Chinamen.
I do not think you can do without whipping.
Separate confinement reduces the man.
In England you have often to relieve the prisoner from solitary confinement. think for the identification of prisoners and those sent back to China more recourse should be had to photography and perhaps a small tatoo mark in some place where it would not be easily seen, the inside of the arta for instance.
11
553
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