Sessional_Paper_1899 — Page 122

HONGKONG.

No.4

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF VICTORIA GAOL FOR THE YEAR 1898.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor,

99

119

No. 19

VICTORIA GAOL,

HONGKONG, 24th January, 1899.

SIR,-I have the honour to submit for the information of H.E. the Governor the following report on the Victoria Gaol for the year 1898.

The usual returns are appended.

2. The number of prisoners admitted to the Gaol during the past year under sentence of the rdinary Courts was 4,976, besides 69 soldiers and sailors sentenced by Courts Martial. There were 1 persons imprisoned for debt and 331 in default of finding security, making a total of 5,427. Of se, 760 were old offenders, including 13 juveniles who were merely sent to the Gaol to be whipped by order of the Magistrate, and were detained pending the infliction of the whipping, leaving a total of 747 old offenders who actually underwent imprisonment.

There were altogether 69 juveniles sent to the Gaol merely to be whipped and arrangements have now been made with the sanction of the Governor by which such juveniles are whipped imme- diately on reception in the outer court of the Gaol. They do not now enter the Gaol nor are they detained beyond the time actually necessary for whipping.

The corresponding numbers for the preceding year were respectively as follows:-

Convicted by the ordinary Courts 4,711, by Courts Martial 48, Debtors 54, in default of

finding security 263; total 5,076, including 606 old offenders.

3. The daily average number of prisoners confined in the Gaol during the year was 511, as com- pared with 462 for 1897.

made

4. The number of prisoners committed to the Gaol for offences not of a criminal nature was 1,837,

up as follows:-

Committed under the Prepared Opium Ordinance,.............

Market Ordinance,

Vehicle Ordinance,

Sanitary Bye-laws,

Harbour Regulations,

For Trespass,.

For Drunkenness,

For Disorderly Conduct,

505

.210

39

..286

92

34

...158

........513

5. The following table, which I insert for the first time, shows the number of prisoners who were committed to Gaol without the option of a fine, and in default of payment of fines.

The period of detention of those who paid their fines after reception in the Gaol was from one to three days.

Number of Prisoners admitted to Gaol during each of the last three years under sentence of imprisonment with and without the option of a fine, and the number of those who obtained their release by paying their fines after reception in Gaol.

Imprisonment with-

Imprisonment in default of paying fine.

Year.

Total.

out the option of

a fine.

Total.

Served the Imprisonment.

Paid fine after recep-

ception into Gaol.

1896,

5,582

2,029

3,553

1,928

1,425

1897,

5,076

1,968

3,108

1,697

1,411

1898,

5,427

1,852

3,575

1,815

1,760

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