666082-1887-Gaol-Rules-and-Regulations — Page 16

1386 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24TH DECEMBER, 1887.

REMISSION OF SENTENCES, AND

REWARDS UNDER THE MARK SYSTEM.

297. The time which every prisoner with a sentence of twelve months and upwards must pass in Prison will be represented by a certain number of marks, which he must earn by actual labour performed before he can be discharged.

298.-No remission will be granted for con- duct. It is only on condition of good conduct and strict obedience that prisoners are allowed to earn by their industry a remission of a portion of their sentence. If, therefore, their conduct be indifferent or bad, they will be liable to be fined a certain number of marks, according to the nature and degree of the offence, and will then forfeit by misconduct the remission which they have earned by their industry.

299. The marks will be given according to the following scale-

(a.) 6 marks a day for zealous and steady

hard labour.

(b.) 5 marks for a less degree of industry. (c.) 4 marks for a moderate days work. 300.-The prisoner's marks will commence at the termination of the penal stage.

301.—On the admission of a prisoner with a sentence of twelve months and upwards, such sentence will be reduced to days, which will be multiplied by four, thus giving the number of marks he is compelled to earn before his dis- charge; thus, take the twelve months sentence, 365 days multiplied by four will give 1,460, the number of marks he must earn at the rate of four a day to complete the whole of his sentence.

302.-If by his industry the prisoner gains six marks a day, and does not lose any for mis- conduct, he earns the full remission of one-third allowed by the Governor.

303.-On Sundays marks will be allowed for conduct alone. Except under special circum- stances where injury has accidentally resulted while on prison work, a prisoner will get only five marks a day during the time he is in Hospital. Prisoners on Light Labour by order of the Surgeon will not get more than five marks a day.

304.-Prisoners who by their misconduct forfeit the whole of their remission, will be liable to be kept in Separate Confinement during the last 6 months of their sentence.

305. The Prison Officers will be supplied with books in which they will enter each evening the marks each prisoner has earned during the day.

306.-When a prisoner is sentenced to forfeit any marks which he has gained, the sentence should state the exact number of marks he is to lose, as, to forfeit six marks.

307.-Extra marks may be given by the Governor, on the recommendation of the Superin- tendent, for special services such as:--

(a.) Giving information of plots.

(b) Protecting Gaol Officers or prisoners from 'attack, or protecting them from imminent danger.

(c.) Preventing escapes, fires, &c.

(d.) Preserving order in case of disturbance. 308. Marks will be forfeited by prisoners for misconduct according to the punishment inflicted, generally at the rate of

8 Marks for one Day Solitary Confinement

on Bread or Rice and Water,

6

6

72

"

""

for one Day Bread or Rice and

Water,

for one Day Reduced Penal Diet, for one Meal Stopped,

for one Pork Ration Stopped, for one Meal Bread or Rice and

Water,

for a flogging..

309.-If a prisoner is reconvicted before the period of his remission has expired, he will be allowed to earn only five anarks a day instead of six, and if he is reconvicted twice before the ex- piration of the period of remission, he will be allowed to earn no remission.

310. All convicted criminal prisoners with sentences of twelve months and upwards who shall be employed at remunerative labour, will be allowed to earn a small gratuity at the rate of one cent for every six marks, but the whole gratuity for any one prisoner is not to exceed $10. Such gratuity shall be paid at, the time of discharge. In forfeiting marks for miscon- duct the proportionate amount of gratuity will also be forfeited.

311.—Convicts will not be allowed to earn any gratuity until they have served the first six months either in Separate Confinement or at No. 1 Hard Labour.

312.—The name of every convict under a life sentence who has served fifteen years of his sen- tence, or having served ten years of his sentence has attained or is believed in the absence of positive evidence to have attained the age of sixty, shall be submitted for the consideration of the Governor in Executive Council. This rule will be com- municated to every such convict now in prison, and to any other on first reception into prison, but each must be made to distinctly understand that such submission in no way implies that any remission of sentence will necessarily be granted.

SEPARATE CONFINEMENT.

313.-Where the Gaol accommodation admits of it, all Male Penal Servitude prisoners shall be required to pass the first six months of their imprisonment in Separate Confinement.

314.-Penal Servitude Prisoners will be allowed one hour daily to exercise in the open air under the supervision of an officer, who will see that the prisoners do not converse together, either in going to the yard, while at exercise, or in return- ing to their cells.

315. Such prisoners are to keep their cells and utensils perfectly clean at all times, and will be employed at crank labour, picking oakum, making or mending clothes, shoe making or mending, &c.