Sessional_Paper_1884-1885 — Page 66

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PAPERS.-The Colonial Secretary, by direction of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers:-

(1.) Correspondence respecting the Armaments of the Forts at Hongkong, (in continuation

of No. 14), (No. 14B.).

(2.) Correspondence respecting Fees charged for issuing Bills of Health. (No. 21). (3.) Statement showing the total Receipts and Payments in the Year 1884, together with a Comparative Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the Years 1883 and 1884. (No. 22).

(4.) Report on the Accounts of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year 1884, by the Colonial

Secretary and Auditor General. (No. 23).

VOTES OF MONEY REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-Read the following Minutes by His Excellency the Governor :-

G. F. BOWEN.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote the following suns:-

C.S.O.

849 of 1885. (1.) Cost of apparatus for testing Coal-Gas,

....$ 500.00

9271885. (2.) Honorarium, sanctioned by the Secretary of State, to Mr. W. C. HILLIER, Acting Chinese Secretary at the British Legation, for superintending Chinese studies of two Cadets in Peking,

..£100 @ 3/8, 545.45

C.5.0.

930 of 1835.

(3.) Arrears of pay for 1884, due to four Police Constables who have accepted the increase of pay under the new regulations as to term of Service for pension and remittance to England, at $60 each,..

978185. (4.) Increase to the salary of the Student Apothecary in Civil Hospital,

from $16 to $30 per month, from the 1st January, 1885,

$ 240.00

$ 168.00

Government House, Hongkong, 1st May, 1885.

The Colonial Secretary moved that these Minutes be referred to the Finance Committee.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and passed.

QUESTION.The Honourable T. JACKSON, by permission, asked whether there is any objection to state the grounds on which the prisoner LEE LUM KWAI has been released from custody.

The Colonial Secretary replied as follows:--

In reply to the question of my Honourable friend, I am directed by the Governor to state that the facts of the case to which he refers are very simple. LEE LUM KWAI was released from custody on the recommendation of the Acting Superintendent of the Gaol, of the Colonial Surgeon, and of the English and Roman Catholic Chaplains, on the ground of his good conduct during his imprisonment, and of his bad health, said by the Colonial Surgeon to endanger his life. Dr. AYRES also certified that an amelioration of his sentence had been promised by the late Governor.

Dr. AYRES further stated that "the petitioner has been of the greatest service to the Medical Department of the Gaol as interpreter and attendant; and his conduct has been very good."

Both the Chaplains strongly supported the prayer of the petition, as did the Acting Superintendent, who added as follows:-

"From enquiries made I find that five (5) prisoners who had received death sentences, afterwards commuted to penal servitude for life, were released after three (3) years' imprison- ment; and that three (3) prisoners, who had been sentenced to penal servitude for life, were released after terms of imprisonment not exceeding six (6) years.'

LEE LUM KWAI was sentenced to penal servitude for life in 1874, and has been in Gaol for eleven (11) years. Now it is the practice in many other Colonies to consider that fifteen (15) years' imprisonment is equivalent to a life sentence, especially in cases where the health of the prisoner has been seriously affected; and that good conduct in Gaol should procure a remission of one-third of that period. On this system, LEE LUM KWAI would, under ordinary circumstances, have been released a year ago.

However, looking to the peculiar circumstances of this case, it has been determined to banish. LEE LUM KWAI from the Colony, on a report from the Captain Superintendent of Police to the effect that he is a person dangerous to the peace and good order of the Colony.