666082-1887-Gaol-Rules-and-Regulations — Page 15

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24TH DECEMBER, 1887.

276.-The hours of labour will not be less than six or more than ten daily, exclusive of meals.

277.-No work shall be done beyond what is necessary on Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas Day, or Chinese New Year's Day.

278.-Jewish prisoners shall not be compelled to work on Saturdays if they claim exemption, but shall be kept in separate confinement on that day and Sunday. They may also keep such other festival days as may be from time to time allowed by the Governor.

279.-Indian prisoners are not to be put to any labour which may really cause them loss of caste.

280.-Convicted criminal prisoners not sen- tenced to Hard Labour will be employed at No. 3 Light Labour.

280a. As soon as the Gaol accommodation shall permit of it, prisoners committed to Gaol for breaches of (naval and?) military discipline shall be kept separate from civil prisoners.

RULES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PRISONERS ON PUBLIC WORKS.

PRISONERS.

281.--The Prisoners shall be divided into parties not exceeding sixteen men, and each party shall be known by a number.

282. Each party shall be under the charge of an Assistant Turnkey armed with a short sword for his defence, who shall have the number of his party on a badge affixed to his left arm; and the whole of the parties shall be under the charge of a Head Turnkey armed with sword and revolver, who shall be assisted by a Turnkey armed in the same manner.

283. The prisoners will work in coupling chains of about twelve feet long, fastened by means of anklets and padlocks.

284.-If the work is near the Gaol, the pri- soners shall be marched in to their mid-day meal at noon, but if at too great a distance from the Gaol, the meal will be sent to them.

285.-The prisoners will breakfast at about 6.20 A.M., and leave the Gaol for their work at about 7 A.M., rest one hour for their mid-day meal from 12 to 1, and knock off work in the afternoon so as to reach the Gaol at 5 P.M. (nine hours daily, including marching in and out).

286.-On Saturdays the prisoners will work until noon.

287. Their mid-day meal will consist of 14 pint of rice congee thickened with cheap meat.

288: Any prisoner with a longer sentence than eight years may be kept at work within the prison until he has served one third of such

sentence.

OFFICERS.

289.-In addition to the Head Turnkey in charge of the prisoners, the Turnkey to assist him, and the Assistant Turnkeys in direct charge of the parties three or four Sikh Guards shall be posted in conspictious positions round the works, armed with loaded rifles, to prevent escapes.

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290.-The Head Turnkey will be continually on the alert during the day, repeatedly visiting. the parties in his charge, and ascertaining that all is correct or otherwise. He will take discreet measures to prevent the escape of prisoners, and to effect their recapture if they are successful in escaping. He will carefully observe the officers under his charge, and report weekly to the Superintendent of the Gaol on their efficiency in the management of their parties. He will enter in a book the number of parties, number of prisoners, and the names of the officers under his charge, with the name of the district where working, and the description of labour. He will be responsible to the Surveyor General for all the tools used by the prisoners. He shall on no account allow people to loiter near the prisoners while at work, or to converse with the officers.

291. The Turnkey shall consider himself to be under the command of the Head Turnkey, and shall assist him in the performance of his duties. He shall move about continually among the parties, keeping a watchful eye on both officers and prisoners. When needed he shall take charge of detached parties, and shall at such times use great discretion in the disposal of his officers so as to prevent the escape of any pri- soners, remembering that their safe custody should be his first care.

292. The Assistant Turnkeys in charge of parties must remember always that the safe custody of the prisoners is their first care. They shall therefore place themselves when on the works so as at all times to command a good view of their men; they shall repeatedly count their prisoners during the day, and never turn their backs towards them, and shall on no account use a spade, pick, or any other tool, so as to place themselves. at a disadvantage with regard to the prisoners.

293. The Assistant Turnkeys shall be careful to ascertain that the anklets, chains, and padlocks are in proper order, and shall minutely examine them before leaving the Gaol, when knocking off work for the mid-day meal, and before returning to the Gaol in the evening.

294. In the event of a prisoner's attempting to escape, the officer in charge of his party will blow his whistle to attract the attention of the other officers, and will then fall-in the remaining prisoners of his party and await instructions from the Head Turnkey.

295.--The Head Turnkey, the Turnkey, and the Sikh Guards will not fire at an escaping prisoner unless his escape cannot be prevented by any other means; and even then will only endeavour to disable him, remembering that loss of life is to be avoided if possible.

296.-The Assistant Turnkeys will keep a book in which they will enter the numbers, names, and sentences of the prisoners of their respective parties, making special remarks as to the industry of each prisoner, and they will be responsible to the Head Turnkey for the tools used by their parties.