Enclosure 2.6.
628
+1985
IREC
REC: 15 JUN JI
This is to certify that I have this day in accordance with the request of the Hon. the Registrar General examined Mr. Sutton as to his knowledge of the Cantonese language.
The examination embraced the following subjects:-
1. Reading in Chinese and translating into English short phrases from an elementary book in the book language.
2. Reading and translating from two books written in the colloquial style. (Medium or High Class of Style of Colloquial).
3. Conversations in English and Chinese, i.e. the rendering of English into Chinese, and Chinese into English.
He passed through all these tests—considering the length of time he has been learning the language—to my entire satisfaction; and I believe him to possess a very good knowledge of Cantonese from the Colloquial standpoint. He also knows something of the book language, though as yet he has paid but little attention to it.
I examined Mr. Sutton some six or nine months ago, chiefly with regard to his acquaintance with the vernacular. Since that time Mr. Sutton has made further progress in the language. This is more particularly noticeable in his pronunciation of the tones, which has improved. The opinion