Sessional_Paper_1906 — Page 140

58

5. The following Table shows the number of prisoners committed to prison without the option of fine and in default of payment of fine :

In default of payment of fine.

Without option of fine.

Total.

Served the imprisonment.

Paid full fine.

Paid part

fine.

1,988

837

719

5,322

1,778

6. There were 13 deaths from natural causes, 3 executions and 2 births in the prison.

7. 83 juveniles were admitted into prison, 35 of whom were sentenced to be whipped in addition to various terms of imprisonment varying from twenty-four hours' detention to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.

8. The percentage of convicted prisoners admitted to prison with previous convictions recorded against them was 8.50, as compared with 12.26 for the year 1904.

9. There were 1,029 punishments awarded for breaches of prison discipline being an average of 1.47 per prisoner, against 798 in the preceding year, and seven prisoners were sentenced to be whipped with the birch by the Assistant Superintendent and one with the cat-o'-nine-tails by order of the same Officer in conjunction with a Justice of the Peace.

10. The following Table shows the daily number of prisoners undergoing imprisonment during the past ten years and the percentage borne by this number to the estimated population of the Colony of Hongkong:-

Year.

Estimated Population.

Daily Average number

Percentage.

of Prisoners.

1896,

239,419

514

214

1897

爷

248,710

462

•185

1898,.

254,400

511

•200

1899.

259,312

432

*166

1900,

262,678

486

•185

1901,

300.660

499

•165

1902,

311,824

576

·184

1903,

325,631

653

*200

1904,

361,206

726

•201

1905,..

377,850

697

184

11. The Home system of registering prisoners on their admission to prison was intro- duced on the 1st January, 1905, and is working well.

12. The complete separation of first offenders from habitual criminals has been observed during the year.

13. The site for a new prison at Kowloon has been selected and the sum of $40,000 towards erecting the same has been included in the Estimates for the current year.

14. In accordance with directions issued by His Excellency the Governor on his visit to the Victoria Gaol on the 20th September, 1904, louver roofs have been added to A. and B. Halls by the Public Works Department.