689230-1878-Gaol-Dietary-Scale-and-Structure-of-Prison- — Page 4

[No. 117.]

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 19TH OCTOBER, 1878. 495

A

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 15th September, 1877.

MY LORD,I have from time to time furnished your Lordship with information showing that the Gaol is not as efficient an instrument in the suppression of crime as it ought to be, and I have also pointed out what seems to me a grave error in the Administration of Justice, that is, the imposition of repeated

short sentences on old offenders.

But whilst I hope, in course of time, to make some reforms in those two subjects, there is a third element in the suppression of crime with respect to which I venture to ask for your Lordship's assistance: I mean the establishment of a system of transportation.

In the year 1857, Sir JOHN BOWRING was authorized to transport to Labuan sixty of the worst class of Hongkong criminals. Soon after I arrived at Labuan I applied to the Secretary of State for permission to get a hundred convicts from Singapore. With Sir HARRY ORD's co-operation this was done; and I found the comparatively large number of Chinese convicts I then had to deal with, could be managed without much difficulty, and that their work was most beneficial to Labuan. The large wharf in the Harbour alongside of which steamers can take in coal, the fish market, the beginning of the railway to Tanjong Kubong, the heaviest part of the overground work at the colliery, the drainage of the land where I put the barracks of the new armed Police Force, all these things were done by the Hongkong and Singapore convicts.-

On the other hand, the arrangement was of manifest advantage at the moment to Hongkong and Singapore. But as the system was not kept up, its benefit to the two larger Colonies soon ceased.

What I now propose is that your Lordship should authorize me to arrange with the Governor of Labuan the transportation from time to time of convicts from Hongkong.

To save time, I have written to Governor USSHER asking him to consider the question and lay his views before your Lordship. I have the honour to enclose a copy of the letter I have addressed to him. The Chief Justice, Mr. Justice SNOWDEN, the Members of my Executive Council and the un-official Members of the Legislative Council, all approve of the idea, and agree in thinking that the transport- ation from time to time of our worst criminals to Labuan would do more than anything else to put a check to the increase of crime in Hongkong.

I have, &c.,

The Right Honourable The EARL OF CARNARVON,

Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

J. POPE HENNESSY, Governor.

[No. 121.]

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 21st September, 1877.

MY LORD,ve the honour to acknowledge the receipt to-day of a Telegraphic Despatch from Your Lordship in the following terms:-

"Twentieth, Governor (of) Labuan reports arrangements for despatch of Coolies from

"Hongkong. Grant all proper facilities.'

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In reference to this subject I beg to lay before your Lordship copies of the correspondence which has already passed, by which your Lordship will observe that I had long since given instructions that everything should be done in Hongkong to facilitate the despatch of Coolies to work the coal mines in Labuan.

There is also however another method of assisting the Government of Labuan in developing the natural resources of that Colony, and to this I have referred in my Despatch No. 117 of 15th instant in which I have requested your Lordship to sanction the transportation of Hongkong Chinese Convicts to Labuan. Judging from past experience there can be no doubt that the interests of both Colonies would be promoted by such an arrangement.

The Right Honourable The EARL OF CARNARVON,

I have, &c.,

Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies,

J. POPE HENNESSY, Governor.

JC.,

&c.,

&c.

[No. 164.]

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 22nd November, 1877.

MY LORD, With reference to my Despatches on the evils of the associated prison system in this Colony, and to your Lordship's instructions in the Despatch No. 45 of the 7th of May last directing me to call on the Surveyor General for plans of the alterations necessary for adapting the Gaol to the Separate System, I have now the honour to transmit to Your Lordship Mr. PRICE's Report, accom- panied by plans and a condensed estimate of the cost.