CO129-319 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [10-11] — Page 519

No. 596.

Hongkong.

Government House,

44088

Real 7 DEC 03

Hongkong, 4th. November, 1903.

512

sir,

26977

With reference to my Despatch No. 302 of

the 19th. June last in which I reported the excessively over-

crowded state of Victoria Gaol and the steps taken to remedy

that state of matters, culminating in the release of 100

short-sentence prisoners, I have the honour to inform you

that on the 1st. ultimo the Superintendent of the Gaol reported

that the number of prisoners confined in Victoria Gaol and

the Belilios Reformatory at that date was no less than 838,

of whom 100 were confined in the latter building, and that

special measures would have to be taken to provide sleering

accommodation for so large a number.

2.

As the dangers arising from overcrowding

were very considerable and the measures proposed to increase

the sleeping accommodation inadequate from a sanitary standpoint

I decided, after consulting my Executive Council, to issue

banishment orders against 150 selected prisoners. Most of

these were short-sentence prisoners convicted of larceny while

no less than 29 were undergoing the usual term of 12 months'

imprisonment for returning to the Colony after they had been.

banished. These prisoners have been banished in small batches HE RIGHT HONOURABLE

without

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE

COLONIES.

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