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laws regulations and speeches into Chinese and vice versa.
Note: We understand that in the Malay Peninsula the
natives of different parts of China intermingle more Ex
with one another than they do in HongKong and always know
more or less of some dialect other than their own. We do not
think it feasible in HongKong to insist on interpreters
hnowing more than one dialect at the time of their
appointment.
Confidential.
11. So far we have not touched on the
employment of Europeansas interpreters. In efficiency of
interpretation the advantage we think lies with the Chinese
The latter commence with a considerable knowledge of English
acquired in five or six
years study at school, and they are
to naturally able comprehend the numerous sub-dialects of
Lex
their language more readily and can make themselves under-
stood with more ease than a European. But Chinese interpres
ters are subjected in HongKong to a very great temptation
to receive bribes, and as a class they spccumb to it. It is
beyong dispute that the Chinese interpreters at the
Magistracy have been in the habit of receiving large
presents from persons brought before the Court. It is the
general