470
: A. Kennedy's system would fail; at the present time all the cadets except one (who is Chief Clerk in Col. Lec's office and Clerk of Council's) are heads of Departments.
When vacancies occur within any of the same class they take their place; this will be filled up either by merit, cadets, who are likely to be of the necessary calibre and position, or by outsiders probably ignorant of Chinese thoroughness, the same interest in their work and Esprit de corps as attaches to an organized Civil Service.
It is true the Cadet system has not been successful so far as regards interpreting for the Courts goes; this is a wholly different question, & Chinese is an exceptionally difficult language.
I do not see how Sir K. will attain with an inferior article what has not been attained by sending the ablest gentleman from home. One of the Magistrates is an ex-cadet (Mr Russell), but it has been found necessary to retain on the staff of the Courts three Chinese Interpreters, whose salaries are £200, £120 + £90; the argument is of course that an Englishman who has learnt Chinese will be less corrupt, but of course as soon as he is competent he will require at least double the pay, and I cannot see that you can secure that Mr Ball will be a more competent Chinese scholar than Mr Russell. I consider that unless the appointed or magistrate has acquired sufficient knowledge of the language to be a fair check on the native interpreter.
It is also admitted that Sir A. Kennedy's plan has the advantage of present economy; i.e. he shows a saving on the Establishments in the new estimates by having got rid of the vote for cadets, before I believe this at the expense of future civil service & think one or two of the old cadets should be now sent out. The present cadets who are certainly costly articles have been found very useful in acting appointments for Office & branch.
13/12/75