652564-1891-Gaol-Annual-Annual-Report — Page 2

260

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH APRIL, 1891.

The

countries as to the deterrent effects of this system would be applicable to Chinese prisoners. The question of the reformatory facilities of the system appears not to have been considered nor has any reference been inade to the monstrous evils of the present Gaol system in this Colony. As far back as 1886 I brought to notice of Government in a special Report the scandalous state of overcrowding of this Gaol. An influential Committee was appointed to enquire into and report on this subject in the spring of 1886 but no steps have yet been taken to improve the state of matters then reported. There were then and are now in this Gaol 95 associated cells occupied many of them day and night. These are crowded to such an extent that the Prisoners have on an average rather less than 200 cubic feet of air each. They sleep on the floors packed together covered by their blankets; it is impossible to prevent their conversing at night under the blankets. It is needless to speak of morality or decency. I will only observe that these Prisoners are many of them day and night in a state of overcrowding which even by night alone in the city of Victoria is declared by law to be a nuisance. They breathe in about one-third less cubic space than is by law permitted for night lodging-houses. Were the Superintendent of the Gaol a lodging-house keeper he would be liable to a fine of $50 for every one of 95 associated cells in Victoria Gaol. (See Ordinance 24 of 1887, sections 67 to 75.) This Ordinance refers only to sanitary matters but the moral aspect of this state of things is far graver. Victoria Gaol is, in my opinion, simply a school of vice and crime. The unfortunate man previously not a criminal who finds his way to Gaol perhaps for a breach of opium laws, a street fight or any other petty offence, runs a risk of contamination which it is difficult to escape, many emerge well instructed in crime. evil influence extends beyond the Gaol; they promise to visit the friends of their prison comrades and are not improved by the contact. It is true indeed that every effort is made to avoid contamination by keeping different classes apart-boys from men, old offenders from first offenders, &c.,--but this is of little use.

In a cell full of 8 or 9 new offenders, it must often happen that one or more though new offenders as regards this Gaol are old criminals from other places who devote themselves to corrupting the more innocent. Hongkong is well known to be full of pirates, burglars, thieves and criminals of every description many of whom are associated in Triad Societies. I am aware that at one time (and probably now) upwards of one hundred members of the Triad Society were in Gaol and recruits to this society were largely obtained from discharged prisoners. The present associated system of this Gaol lends extraordinary facilities to the extension of these criminal organizations and whatever money may be saved to the Public, by refusing to build the 'Gaol accommodation which health, decency and criminal reform require will probably have to be paid in increased Police expenses and increased insecurity to life and property in the Colony and neighbouring waters. The Chinese prisoners in this Gaol while exposed to all these evil influences have on the other hand nothing done for their improve- ment. The little that is done is to teach some of the confirmed criminals honest trades. This cannot be done for all; there is no space for proper workshops. The bulk of the Prisoners have to be employed in the monotonous and profitless labour of shot and stone carrying varied by oakum picking. Nothing is done to expand or elevate their minds; no tuition of any sort is provided; no one is appointed to visit them and encourage them with kindly words of human sympathy. A native Missionary indeed preaches in Chinese on Sundays in the yard-this is all.

With such a state of matters would it not appear to be the duty of the Colony at least to provide for its prisoner a building fit to preserve the health, decency and morality of the inmates, to save them from the fatal and corrupting influence of the worst criminals and to give a reasonable prospect of weaning them from crime and teaching them self-respect and industry.

Prisoners and their Discipline.

E

6. During the year there have been 11,756 Prison Offences to an average of 566, giving a little over 20 offences for each Prisoner. The great proportion of Prison Offences are committed by short sentence Prisoners. Prisoners entitled to earn remission are generally careful to avoid Prison Offences. On the last day of the year, of 287 Prisoners sentenced to 6 months' imprisonment or over, 93 have been clear of punishment for more than three months and of these 13 had been clear for upwards of a year.

7. I append as usual Returns showing the number of the most common offences committed by Prisoners, similar Returns for the last three years being shown alongside for the sake of comparison.

Industrial Labour.

8. There has been a decrease in the industrial earnings during the year owing chiefly to the increased cost of paper stuff for oakum picking, but industrial work is greatly hampered by absolute want of space. The usual Returns are appended.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

The Honourable FRANCIS FLEMING, C.M.G.,

Colonial Secretary.

Your most obedient Servant,

A. GORDON,

Superintendent.