671806-1885-Order-in-Council-Gaol-Rules-and-Regulations- — Page 17

1032 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 21ST NOVEMBER, 1885.

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.

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,

238. 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 from the date of his sentence.

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 carn 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 five only 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, for one Day Bread or Rice and

Water,

6

**

6

""

6

>>

4

22

72

""

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 marks 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.

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