...
333
. Chinese inthe Straits Settlements. There is no reason why any
feeling of discontent should arise among interpreters, as was
feared by the previous Committee would be the case if a
separate Department was formed. Under the present conditions
in HongKong and China a good knowledge of English is at a
premiun, and to ensure efficient interpretation interpreters
as a class must be paid at a considerably higher rate than
the clerical staff.
6.
It still remains as true as it was in
1887 that there is no one to replace Mr.Ball and Mr. Li-Hong-
Mi at the Supreme Court in case of absence or sickness"
This is the great blot upon the present system- that there
is no one to take the place of the Head Interpreters when
they retire, and that the Government has to take the chance
which is a very small one of finding a suitable man outside
the Public Service. The only remedy is the training of
student-interpreters and the provision thereby of a successio
(n
of efficient offi
officers.
7. We not only concur in thinking it "very
acquainted
desirable that the Magistrates should be opened with
Chinese