10027
med
Chief Interpreter should be
a European Guittumans. The Succtim
д
bribery is here an important factor The consideration, Bribery
is
universal in China
in
and the system would appear to be in the worse
The Chinese
and woop of character. It will always in my opinion be rucsear to have the refehnent of
responsible European
The
A
in direct contral qu Interpreters.
I have The hamon 5t
Sie
four most obedient Stumble Servant
Henry Make
Forerunn.
COPY.
Confidential.
بم
14 MAY 00
So far we have not touched on the employment of
358
Europeans as interpreters. In efficiency of interpretations 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, art they are naturally able to comprehend the numerous sub-dialects of their language more readily and cen nake themselves understood with more ease than a Europeen. But Chinese interpreters are subjected in Hongkong to a very great, temptation to receive bribes and as a class they succumb to i tro It is beyond 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 belief among the Chinese that interpreters have great power to influence the course of justice. We think this power has been exaggerated, but interpreters have certainly known how to take advantage of popular opinion. In the Supreme Court, where lawyers' clerks with a knowledge of Chinese are almost always in attendance, the possibility of a miscarriage of justice by such means is reduced to a minimum; but even there, it is a constant practice to offer presents so the interpreters. The only advantage Furopean interpreters have over Chinese is in their probity. But this advantage cannot be claimed by all Europeans. It is a matter of notoriety that Inspectors of Police, Inspectors in the Sanitary Department and Overseers of Public Works have been in the habit of taking bribes. No benefit therefore to the Public Service is obtained by engaging es interpreters Europeans belonging to this class; and this is a serious objection to the present system of obtaining student- interpreters. Each interpreter costs the Government two thour and dollars, whilst a more efficient Chinese interpreter could be obtained at less expense. We are afraid that there is not now much prospect of the Government being able to obtain the services
of