416
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 22ND SEPTEMBER, 1877.
wings are devoted to Chinese and others to Europeans. The Europeans were in separate cells of the same size as some of those that were occupied by a number of Chinese, so that although when you struck the average you might get our cubic feet, yet the space for the majority of the Chinese prisoners was in reality only 200 feet, and in 1876, 190 feet. The question of cubic space as regards the health of the prisoners is a minor one when compared with the effect of association on the habits, character, conduct in gaol, and future life of the prisoners. In one of his reports, the Superintendent of Police remarks that a large proportion of the prisoners who come before my honourable friend here (Mr. MAY) every year are old offenders, and he truly says, this is a serious thing, to which we ought to direct our attention. How are we to deal with such cases? If we have a gaol on the separate system, where the prisoners must do some useful hard work, and where they know there is not the slightest chance of their release before the end of the Judge's sentence except by steady good conduct, if we provide reformatory and industrial training for juvenile criminals, and if we let it be clearly understood that second offences will be punished with a long sentence, that I think will do more to check the growth * of crime than anything else we can devise.
We
We must keep steadily before us, the one great object, to check the growth of crime. If by certain measures we can succeed in reducing crime, and amongst those measures are some which are open to the imputation of being humane, that is no reason for being ashamed of such measures. must pursue our real object, the stamping out of a criminal class, the protection of life and property,- regardless of the charge that in so doing we give certain offenders, and especially that numerous class here, the little boy criminals, some industrial training.
I shall not to-day give notice of any particular measures. The subject I have brought before you is one of some magnitude, and I trust at a not very distant meeting, within the next few weeks possibly, to have an opportunity of submitting my plans in more detail. Under the Ordinances of this Colony, the Governor in Executive Council has the power of framing regulations for the gaol. The present regulations he can entirely annul if he pleases, and make new regulations if he thinks fit to do so; but this is a subject of very great interest to the whole community, and I desire to have the advice and assistance of the Chief Justice and of the unofficial members of the Legislative Council, who represent property; and therefore I shall not avail myself of the powers of the Ordinances as they exist, but whatever changes I shall ask you to assist me in making I shall lay before the Legislative Council and invite your opinion on every branch of such changes. Whatever scheme I shall put before you, I will give you ample notice of. You will read the despatches I now lay upon the table. Some further despatches will be printed when the Surveyor General has completed his estimate and plans of what alterations are necessary to carry out the separate system. I shall put these before you also, and invite your consideration of the whole question.
THE PRAYA.
Hon. H. LowсOCK-I wish to ask a question, if your Excellency will allow me, thoug I am rather out of order, but it is on a subject of importance to the Colony, and I think you it should be answered. I refer to the reconstruction of the Praya, or repairs rendered nece the typhoon of September, 1874, which have been delayed, I think I may say, in a most inre manner. Last time the subject was mentioned, the Council was informed that the plans 1 approved by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and that the means suggested by the Commiss for finding the necessary funds had also been approved, and on that occasion this Council was ask to vote for the commencement of the work. "I think the Colony is justified in asking why the wo has been discontinued. I am not in a positon, of course, to press for an answer at present.
1
J.
His EXCELLENCY--I think my honourable friend was fully justified in asking the question, and it i certainly one of importance. I had hardly arrived in the Colony when the matter was brought to my notice by the Surveyor General and other members of the Council, and I myself very soon saw its vast importance to the Colony. The consequence was that on reading the papers relating to it, I thought it desirable to telegraph to the Secretary of State to ask for authority to have the Surveyor General at once to proceed with the work. I received an answer that Lord CARNARVON was sending out to me a despatch containing the whole of Sir JOHN COODE's views on the subject, and when they arrived, it would be my duty to put them before the Surveyor General, and move the Surveyor General to make a further report. It was on the 15th June I telegraphed. The despatch has arrived. I lost no time in putting it into the hands of the Surveyor General, and he did not lose a single day in taking up the case and preparing his rejoinder to Sir JOHN COODE's remarks. No doubt that will be again submitted to Sir JOHN COODE, and I hope by telegraph I may receive instructions to proceed on the modified plan. It would be in order, perhaps, if my honourable friend the Surveyor General would add a few words.
The SURVEYOR GENERAL-The difference which has existed between my own designs and those of Sir JOHN COODE are due perhaps to a misunderstanding on his part, of course, I speak with due deference to so high an authority on marine engineering, but he has conceived the opinion that the sea wall is exposed to the full force of the open sea. I have had to study economy and efficiency combined; he has l d only to efficiency, not conceiving the works are to be carried out in a land-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.