from this branch of the Service, & I should like to have a Head Interpreter who should be responsible for the interpretation in all the courts, with an adequate staff under him, instead of having interpreters who showed themselves incompetent in criminal cases, if required to serve. All the Interpreters should be Englishmen well educated in Chinese.
in all serious cases civil or criminal.
Often a man does not understand the question asked by Counsel, & plunges blindly, not to betray, on the chance of making no mistake.
This system might be worked up to through Students, but if an Interpreter were wanted, or should have to appoint someone outside the Service altogether, a great delay would occur.
Sir Arthur Kennedy's Scheme will hardly do, as it amounts to giving the Junior Interpreter the patronage of all the Judicial Offices for his own friends, or to say the least, limits the field of selection unnecessarily.
17
I agree to the plan proposed of training the Cadets at Oxford under Professor Legge. The advantages seem to me unquestionable. But they should be members of some College with the other students.
I quite agree in the £250 in lieu of the rations. I would only request consideration of the general Expenses of living in Hong Kong as the sum is not sufficient.
31
I have read this further paper on 3039.
74.21/12
Justice RM21/12
for reference.
I shall speak to you before writing anything less adequate to the circumstances.
See minute on Sir John Prendergast.
344327
RM 20/3/17
Klein
Dec.