CO129-073 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Bowring - 1859 [1-5] — Page 554

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

Interpreter for Chinese on the Rolls of the Supreme Court, on the 24th of August 1850.

With reference to this fact, I would beg to say that there is no qualification which a Magistrate may possess in other respects, which can, in any way, compensate for the incapacity to check those indispensable curses to native Courts - low Class Interpreters. I speak advisedly when I say that the native population have not, and cannot, have confidence in the decisions of our Courts, until the Magistrates on the Bench know something of the language.

It is not solely that the Interpreters be thoroughly kept in check, but that the magistrate may have a knowledge of the peculiar train of thought, the probable motives which actuate, and the ulterior aims of the native litigants and witnesses who appear before him, with the capacity to sift the truth from the maze of deceit and perjury which prevail amongst all Orientals.

I would beg further to represent that I have reason to...

Page 551

Edit History

2026-05-18 11:10:06 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct

Live

View comparison

AI Proofread

Interpreter for Chinese on the Rolls of the Supreme Court, on the 24th of August 1850. With reference to this fact, I would beg to say that there is no qualification which a Magistrate may possess in other respects, which can, in any way, compensate for the incapacity to check those indispensable curses to native Courts - low Class Interpreters. I speak advisedly when I say that the native population have not, and cannot, have confidence in the decisions of our Courts, until the Magistrates on the Bench know something of the language. It is not solely that the Interpreters be thoroughly kept in check, but that the magistrate may have a knowledge of the peculiar train of thought, the probable motives which actuate, and the ulterior aims of the native litigants and witnesses who appear before him, with the capacity to sift the truth from the maze of deceit and perjury which prevail amongst all Orientals. I would beg further to represent that I have reason to... Page 551

Baseline (Original)

Intepreter for Chinese on the Rolls of the Supreme Court, on the 24th of August 1850. With reference to this fact, I would beg is no that there bag to say qualification which a Magistrate may possess other respects. which an Oriental Police Court in can, in compresate for the incapacity to check those indispensable curses to native Courts - low. Class. . Interpreters . I speak advisedly when I say that the Nation population have not and meorr carr have the decisions of uce. in confidence. our Courts, until F 551 the Magistrates on the Bench- know something of the language. not solely that the Interpreters be thoroughly kept in check, but that the magistrate may have a knowledge of the peculiar train of thought, the probable motives which actuate, and the ulterior aims of the native litigants and witnesses whow appear before him, with the capacity to sift the truth the · from maze of deceit and perjury which prevail amongst all Orientals. I would beg further to represent that I have reason to

2026-05-18 11:10:06 · Baseline

View content

Intepreter for Chinese on the Rolls of the Supreme Court, on the 24th of August 1850.

With reference to this fact, I

would beg

is no

that there

bag to say qualification which a

Magistrate may possess

other respects.

which

an Oriental Police Court

can, in

compresate for the incapacity to check those indispensable curses

to native Courts - low. Class.

Interpreters . I speak advisedly when I say that the Nation population have not and

meorr

carr

have

the decisions of

uce. in

confidence.

our Courts, until

551

the Magistrates on the Bench- know something of the language.

not

solely that the Interpreters be thoroughly kept in check, but that the magistrate may have a knowledge of the peculiar

train

of thought, the probable

motives which actuate, and the

ulterior aims of the native litigants

and witnesses whow

appear before him, with the capacity to sift

the truth

the

· from

maze of deceit and perjury which prevail amongst all Orientals.

I would beg further to

represent that I have reason to

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.