CO129-376 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [3-4] — Page 542

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ONFIDENTIAL.

Sir.

со

529

17437

Government House,

Hongkong, 26th. April, 1911.

With reference to my recent Des-

qo. 17191 -patches on the subject of serious crime, I may observe that

in my opinion and in that of the Captain Superintendent of

Police sentences of less than 5 years actual imprisonment

are of little use. Sentences of 3 years are reduced to 2

years under the mark system if the prisoner is well behaved

in Gaol, and it is well known that notorious criminals rely-

-ing in the shortness of the sentence inflicted by Hongkong

Courts are willing to run the risk of capture and threaten

their victims that if they give evidence against them they

will take a signal revenge on release after two or three

years. This renders the victims unwilling to give evidence

and so increases the difficulty of conviction. Prisoners on

the other hand who have a seven years sentence (viz.:- an

actual 5 years) or upwards are (the Captain Superintendent

of Police says) completely reformed. They learn a trade in

Gaol, and on release are eagerly sought after at good wages,

and the Captain Superintendent of Police can recollect no

instance LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P..

IGHT HONOURABLE