CO129-179 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [9-12] — Page 69

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

500

68

Speak fluently in Chinese. If tender into accurate, idiomatic English, just what he has heard, with all its shades of meaning, he is a more valuable interpreter than a Chinese man who both speaks and understands Chinese perfectly, but who has not a sufficient command of English to reproduce accurately what he has heard.

I should not like to see a Chinese interpreter, supervised and controlled by an English interpreter sitting by. The practical difficulties of conducting a case are great enough in all cases of interpretation, without having a person whose duty it would be to interrupt the interpreter when he saw occasion and correct him, and who would constantly be appealed to by Counsel to know if a question had been answered correctly.

But an Englishman interpreting, with his Chinese teacher beside him whom he might privately consult if he saw occasion, would be a far better plan.

I believe it to be a mistake to treat an interpreter as anything more than a scientific witness whose evidence, where needful, might be contradicted.

The Practice and Procedure of the Supreme Court must soon be largely amended. At present it is neither the one thing nor the other.

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2026-05-21 18:23:45 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
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500 68 Speak fluently in Chinese. If tender into accurate, idiomatic English, just what he has heard, with all its shades of meaning, he is a more valuable interpreter than a Chinese man who both speaks and understands Chinese perfectly, but who has not a sufficient command of English to reproduce accurately what he has heard. I should not like to see a Chinese interpreter, supervised and controlled by an English interpreter sitting by. The practical difficulties of conducting a case are great enough in all cases of interpretation, without having a person whose duty it would be to interrupt the interpreter when he saw occasion and correct him, and who would constantly be appealed to by Counsel to know if a question had been answered correctly. But an Englishman interpreting, with his Chinese teacher beside him whom he might privately consult if he saw occasion, would be a far better plan. I believe it to be a mistake to treat an interpreter as anything more than a scientific witness whose evidence, where needful, might be contradicted. The Practice and Procedure of the Supreme Court must soon be largely amended. At present it is neither the one thing nor the other.
Baseline (Original)
500 68 speak flutably in Chisel. If tender into accurate, idiomatie Euglish, just what he has heard, wither wore hot liss, with all its shades of sucaming he is a score valuable interpreter thorn a Chaman who both spento and understando Chiese perfecth, but who has not a sufficent command. of English to reproduce accurately what he has heard. I should not like to see a An English interpreter. chicxc interpreter, supervised and controuted by sitting by. The practical difficulties of conducting a case are great mnough in all cases of interpretation, without having a person whore duty, it would be be to interrupt the interpretes whentals. he saw occasion and correct him, and who would constantly, be appealed to by Counsel to know if & question had been auswer girln correcte. But A An English man interpreting, with his chinese teacher beside him whom be might privately consult if he saw occasion would be a far better plan. I believe it to be a mustake lo treat an interpreton than a secculifie י as anything more. sciculific witness whore Evidence, where needful might be contradicted. The Practice and Procedure of the Rupreme Court must soon be largely ammouded. At prevent iter Reither the one thing for the other. ری
2026-05-21 18:23:45 · Baseline
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500

68

speak flutably in Chisel. If tender

into accurate, idiomatie Euglish, just what he has heard, wither wore hot liss, with all its shades of sucaming he is a score valuable interpreter thorn

a Chaman who both spento and understando Chiese perfecth, but who has not a sufficent command. of English to reproduce accurately what

he has heard.

I should not like to see a

An

English interpreter.

chicxc interpreter, supervised and controuted by sitting by. The practical difficulties of conducting a case are great mnough in all cases of interpretation, without having a person whore duty, it would

be

be to interrupt the interpretes whentals.

he saw occasion and correct him, and who would constantly, be appealed to

by Counsel to know if & question had been

auswer girln correcte.

But

A

An English man interpreting, with

his chinese teacher beside him whom

be might privately consult if he saw occasion would be a far better plan.

I believe it to be a mustake lo

treat an

interpreton

than a secculifie

י

as anything more. sciculific witness whore Evidence, where needful might be contradicted.

The Practice and Procedure of the Rupreme Court must soon be largely ammouded. At prevent iter

Reither the one

thing

for the other.

ری

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