the interpretation department" the most important duties of the registration general
as our
as regards point (1) Interpretation in the public offices will be less & less wanted Cadets are being carefully trained in Chinese; what is really wanted is a better set of interpreters in the law courts, and this object can be achieved by having a competent head interpreter, Dr Eitel, who will be responsible for those under him.
As regards point ii,
What is the use of transferring the duties of the so-called Chinese Secretary head of the interpreters: The Registrar has always been a species of "Chinese Secretary" for the protection of certain formalities under Ord. 8 of 1858, and until Sir J. Hennessy came into office, it was considered that Mr Smith, who was then Registrar General, had worked very well.
Reference was made to Mr Smith's memo on the duties of transferring the Registrar General to other departments. This will be found in GR1178/1922/32(III)14120/28, but it must be remembered that Mr Smith did not recommend making any change; he only pointed out certain changes which could be made if it was determined not to leave things alone.
The report received in the committee on the subject in April 1880 speaks for itself: it points out that nothing is to be gained by the proposed transfer of certain duties to various departments. A few of the Registrar General's duties and Sir J. Hennessy has therefore abandoned this scheme and wishes only to make the office of Chinese Secretary...
The work of the Chinese Secretary can be infinitely better done by the Registrar General as the head of the Chinese office than by the chief interpreter; and such has been the decision given in Lord Kimberley's despatch.
A comparison of the new with the original draft rules will show that they have been modified i. so as to bring the Interpretation department more under the Col-Secretary, and ii. so as to lay more stress on the interpretation side and less on that of the Chinese.