Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 191

95

No.

1902

HONGKONG,

STATEMENT REGARDING BELILIOS REFORMATORY.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.

One child has been accommodated in the Belilios Reformatory from the date upon which it was opened up to the present day. There are no young criminals now resident there.

The total cost in respect of the one inmate was nil, as he only remained in the building a very

short time.

The amount expended on the Reformatory up to date is as follows:--

(a.) Maintenance of buildings, furniture, &c.,

.$ 606.99

(b.) Emoluments of officers connected with the institution,

2,781.42

Total,

.$3,388.41

As there has been only one inmate of the Reformatory since it was first started, the Committee appointed by Sir HENRY BLAKE to enquire into educational questions has been requested to consider and report what should be done as regards the Reformatory. The Report of the Committee has not yet been received. When the Government is in possession of its views, steps will be taken without delay to deal with the question. Though the Master and Assistant Master have had nothing to do in the Reformatory, they have not been idle. They have been and are now employed by the Govern- ment in other Departments. Mr. CURWEN, the Master, was for several months attached for special work to the Colonial Secretary's Office, and is now in the Postmaster General's Department. Mr. BULLIN, the Assistant Master, has been provisionally appointed First Clerk in the Registrar General's Office. The money expended on account of their salaries has not therefore been wasted.