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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, IUTH MARCH, 1877.
To supplement "Oakum-picking" and "Stone-breaking," the present Acting Superintendent introduced “St carrying." Stone of the weight of 90 lbs. are carried, hung from a bamboo, by two men. The work is contin and certainly is hard labour, and in the opinion of the Committee well suited for the purpose in view. It is severe than "Shot-drill," or the "Crank," but is harder, though less irksome than "Oakum-picking” and “St breaking."
The Committee are of opinion that "Stone-carrying" may be continued with advantage as a substitute for c intermediate forms of labour.
STONE-BREAKING. This is a form of punishment strongly recommended by all persons authorities. It fo one of the "intermediate" kinds of labour generally.
Here the granite is so soft and easily broken that the Committee think it doubtful if it be really hard labou The present Regulations assign 1 bushels as a daily task, but the present Superintendent thinks that quantity might be increased to 3 bushels.
The duty of supplying the granite has hitherto fallen upon the Surveyor General's Department and the cc charged to it.
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The Surveyor General complains very strongly of the great expense c thereby in road repairs, except per for roads or streets in the immediate neighbourhood of the Gaol. icemi
Carring stone to and from the Gaol to any part of the Colony, except e streets immediately adjoining, cau large outlay. Mr. PRICE says that since the system has been altered, roads can be mended 25 per cent more che Contractors object to take stone broken in the Gaol, as they can get stone broken in site or very nearly so at 75 the cubic yard. Women and children are largely employed in this way in the roads and streets.
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Recommen/lation.--The Committee think that if "Stone-breaking" is to be considered a form of punishme useful that it deserves to be retained, any loss should fall on the Gaol Deparment. If, however, owing to the nature of the material, it does not form a punishment of the "intermediate" class, "Stone-carrying" scems t equally or more useful, with the advantage that the prisoners are not armed with such deadly weapons as ham would be in case of an outbreak.
STONE-DRESSING.—" This is an employment which requires a certain amount of teaching, and is given to a long sentenced prisoners.
The Surveyor General complains that it is costly to his Department for the same reason as stone-breaking this may be remedied in the way before suggested.
It has the advantage of teaching the prisoners employed a sort of skilled labour by which they may e livelihood on the expiration of their sentences.
STONE-POLISHING.-This has been tried to a very small extent. It is doubtful whether it could be made
labour.
The granite of the island is capable of taking a very high degree of polish, and a demand for polished gr or marble, might be created, which would render the labour self paying, if not remunerative.
N.B.—Mr. TONNOCHY objects that this work, riquiring the constant application of water, keeps the pris sitting or standing in wet clothes, and thus is likely to affect their health. The Committee think that this obje might be easily overcome and would recommend this as a useful form of work, provided there are no other re to the contrary.
The 5 forms of labour considered so far alone constitute work to which the epithet "hard" can in any ser applied, 3 being intermediate. The rest are employments to which prisoners under long sentences are put, and be considered together.
They come under the head of "industrial" forms, and are valuable as teaching a trade, or kind of work, will enable a man to maintain himself on leaving Gaol.
It is unnecessary to describe them.
The Committee, however, desire to call the attention of His Excellency, especially to No. 11 (“Serv Under this heading, the employment of long sentenced prisoners in the service of the Officers of the Gaol c About 15 in all are so employed. Some of the prisoners are employed in cooking for the Turnkeys. The kit are situated outside the immediate precincts of the Gaol near the entrance gate, through which coolies and persons bringing necessaries, or having business in the Gaol pass constantly, so that communication with the o may be, and no doubt is easily carried on, and articles forbidden by the rules introduced. Recommendation.-The Committee strongly recommend that all this should cease.
That the prisoners s never be allowed to pass the prison gates by the Office yard, and that a sufficient number of servants shot employed to attend on the Cfficers.
CLERICAL LABOUR.-One prisoner is employed in the Office and keeps all the books under the direction Superintendent and Warden. The sentence of the prisoner now so employed, it is understood, will shortly exp
Recommendation. The Committee are of opinion that it would be much better to secure the services of ar clerk, rather than to rely upon the trustworthiness of an inmate of the Gaol for the accuracy of important reco
2ND CLASS PUNISHMENTS.
PUNISHMENTS FOR BREACHES OF GAOL RULES.-These punishments are inflicted under the authority Gaol Ordinance, No. 4 of 1863, either by the Superintendent acting alone (Section II) for the offences enum there, or a breach of the Gaol Rules or discipline-or by the Superintendent in conjunction with the Visiting Ju if the offence is beyond the power of the Superintendent to visit with adequate punishment.
They are: Imprisonment in a "solitary cell" for 3 days on a diet of bread or rice and water; or Flogginį 12 strokes of the rattan in case of felons.
In conjunction with Visiting Justices, the Superintendent may punish by close or solitary confinement on or rice and water for U days in the case of felons or prisoners twice convicted within 3 months by 36 strokes.
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