228
(34).
4th. Each Cadet will receive salary at the rate of £100 a year while studying in this country and a salary of $1200 a year from the date of his arrival in the Colony. The cost of his passage to the Colony will be paid, subject to the liability of repayment hereafter mentioned (Secs. 8, 9).
5th. After arrival in Hongkong he will be required to continue his study of the language.
6th. While thus studying, he will be under the control and supervision of the Governor of the Colony, who will frame regulations for his hours of study and general duties. Quarters, books, and teachers will be provided for him at the public expense, and he will be required to attend at the Public Offices for not less than two hours daily, while he is continuing his reading.
7th. As soon as he is declared by a Board of Examiners to have acquired a competent knowledge of Chinese, he will be employed either as an Interpreter or in such Department as may require his services, at a salary of $1,800 per annum, without other allowances, and will be considered eligible for promotion in the Civil Service of Hongkong on the occurrence of any vacancy which he may be deemed suitable to fill.
8th. The progress of the Cadet will be tested by half-yearly examinations, and he will be liable to be dismissed without further pay, if he does not pass his final examination (see Section 7) within such time as may be fixed, or if at any time his progress or conduct shall be considered by the Governor and Executive Council to be so unsatisfactory as to render such a course desirable. The Governor and Council will decide, having regard to the ground of dismissal, whether the Cadet shall be sent home at the public expense, or shall be left to find his own way home, or shall be called upon to repay the cost of his passage.
9th. A Bond must be entered into by the Cadet and his friends at home with the Crown Agents for the Colonies to secure the repayment of the cost of the passage out, in the event of his dismissal and of its being decided by the Governor and Executive Council that such repayment shall be enforced; and also in the event of the Cadet within four years from the date of his arrival in Hongkong either quitting the Colony without leave or relinquishing his appointment (except for ill health), together with a further sum of £50 for each year to repay the Colony the cost of his teaching, up to his leaving.
The $ is at present reckoned in Hongkong for purposes of pension and half-pay at 4s. 2d.
Colonial Office, July 8th, 1878.
Enclosure F.
STATE OF INTERPRETATION IN HONGKONG, IN 1877.
1. DEFECTIVE INTERPRETATION IN THE COURTS OF LAW.
(35)
Of the Portuguese gentleman who is chief interpreter in the Colony, the interpreter of Chinese and English in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice says: "He cannot interpret the written language of China." "He is unable to express himself in correct English.” Sir JOHN SMALE adds: "It seems to me that a staff of interpreters with a competent head interpreter is a Colonial want."
Mr. Justice SNOWDEN says: "The interpretation department of the Supreme Court has long been in a very unsatisfactory state, and requires a complete reorganization." He expresses the opinion that the staff of interpreters at Singapore is "very superior to those at Hongkong." He adds that not one of our present interpreters is a man of sufficient education to be thoroughly efficient. Mr. SNOWDEN recommends a system similar to that which prevails in Singapore.
The Attorney General says that being unacquainted with the language used he is unable to express a personal opinion, but he has heard complaints on the subject.
Mr. No Achor's views are well deserving of Your Lordship's attention. He regards the interpretation in the Supreme Court as "deplorably defective." He thinks sufficient inducement has not been held out to competent men to join the Government service as interpreters. He says:
"In conclusion I may be allowed to remark that, it appears to me, sufficient importance had not hitherto been attached to the subject of interpretation. It is very rare to find a well-educated English or Chinese so conversant with the two languages as to be competent to undertake the responsible duties of a Court interpreter, and when such a person is met with, he would be an invaluable aid to the administration of justice in this Colony if his services were secured. I am sorry to say that more than one gentleman possessing the requisite knowledge and qualifications of an efficient interpreter, with the additional advantage of some years' experience in a Court of Justice, left the Government Service for want of increase of salary. As attention is now called to the subject of interpretation in the Courts of this Colony, I trust that the importance of holding out sufficient inducement to competent men to join the Government Service as interpreters may not be overlooked."
The unsatisfactory state of things disclosed in those opinions recalls the report addressed to the Duke of NEWCASTLE by Sir HERCULES ROBINSON in despatch No. 39 of the 23rd of March 1861, in that despatch the Governor pointed out the want of good interpreters and recommended a scheme for the establishment of Colonial cadetships.
The scheme so recommended had originally been suggested by Dr. LEGGE. It was approved by the Secretary of State and successfully started. Unfortunately, in spite of the remonstrances of Dr. LEGGE it was gradually abandoned.
Dr. LEGGE is now at Oxford, and as a first step towards reorganizing a proper scheme, I venture to suggest to Your Lordship that the whole question might again be submitted to him for his opinion.
I have, &c.,
GOVERNOR HENNESSY TO THE EARL OF CARNARVON.
J. POPE HENNESSY,
GOVERNMENT House, HONGKONG, 7th September, 1877.
MY LORD-In my despatch No. 108 of the 6th instant, I had the honour of laying before Your Lordship some examination papers showing that the best English education to be found in this Colony is not as good as might be expected. I regret to report that a special subject of importance connected to some extent with our general educational system is also in an unsatisfactory state; I refer to the interpretation in our Courts of Law.
Serious complaints from leading merchants, members of the bar, and some of the Chinese community having reached me as to the defective mode in which the interpretation is now conducted, I caused a circular to be sent on the 31st of July to the Judges, Magistrates, and practising barristers inviting them to favour me with their opinions on the subject; I now enclose for Your Lordship's information the various replies of these experienced gentlemen.
2. DEFECTIVE INTERPRETATION IN THE COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
1. I think the Colonial Secretary's staff should be strengthened by a more efficient Chinese Interpreter.
2. In the Colonial Office List for 1875 there are two interpreters put down for that Department; but in the lists for 1876 and 1877 only one. That one, Mr..., was supposed by my predecessor to be fitting himself, under the system of what was called the Board of Examiners for Chinese studies, to be the Chinese Interpreter for the Colonial Secretary's Office.
Dec.
228
( 34 ).
4th. Each Cadet will receive salary at the rate of £100 a year while studying in this
country and a salary of $1200 a year from the date of his arrival in the Colony. The cost of his passage to the Colony will be paid, subject to the liability of repayment hereafter mentioned (Secs. 8, 9).
5th. After arrival in Hongkong he will be required to continue his study of the language. 6th. While thus studying, he will be under the control and supervision of the Governor of the Colony, who will frame regulations for his hours of study and general duties. Quarters, books, and teachers will be provided for him at the public expense, and he will be required to attend at the Public Offices for not less than two hours daily, while he is continuing his reading.
7th. As soon as he is declared by a Board of Examiners to have aequired a competent knowledge of Chinese, he will be employed either as an Interpreter or in such Department as may require his services, at a salary of $1,800 per annum, without other allowances, and will be considered eligible for promotion in the Civil Service of Hongkong on the occurrence of
any vacancy which he
may be deemed suitable to fill.
upon
out.
8th. The progress of the Cadet will be tested by half-yearly examinations, and he will be liable to be dismissed without further pay, if he does not pass his final examination (see Section 7) within such time as may be fixed, or if at any time his progress or conduct shall be considered by the Governor and Executive Council to be so unsatisfactory as to render such a course desirable. The Governor and Council will decide, having regard to the ground of dismissal, whether the Cadet shall be sent home at the public expense, or shall be left to find his own way home, or shall he, in addition, called
to repay
the cost of his
passage 9th. A Bond must be entered into by the Cadet and his friends at home with the Crown Agents for the Colonies to secure the repayment of the cost of the passage out, in the event of his dismissal and of its being decided by the Governor and Executive Council that such repayment shall be enforced; and also in the event of the Cadet within four years from the date of his arrival in Hongkong either quitting the Colony without leave or relinquishing his appointment (except for ill health), together with a further sum of £50 for each year to repay the Colony the cost of his teaching, up to his leaving.
The $ is at present reckoned in Hongkong for purposes of pension and half-pay at 4s. 2d. Colonial Office, July 8th, 1878.
Enclosure F.
STATE OF INTERPRETATION IN HONGKONG, IN 1877.
1. DEFECTIVE INTERPRETATION IN THE COURTS OF LAW,
( 35 )
Of the Portuguese-gentleman who is chief interpreter in the Colony, the interpreter of Chinese and English in the Supreme Court,-the Chief Justice says: "He cannot interpret the written lan- "He is unable to express himself in correct English.” Sir JOHN SMALE guage of China.” adds:-"It seems to me that a staff of interpreters with a competent head interpreter is a Colonial
want."
Mr. Justice SNOWDEN says: "The interpretation department of the Supreme Court has long been in a very unsatisfactory state, and requires a complete reorganization." He expresses the opinion that the staff of interpreters at Singapore is "very superior to those at Hongkong." He adds that not one of our present interpreters is a man of sufficient education to be thoroughly efficient. Mr. SNOWDEN recommends a system similar to that which prevails in Singapore.
The Attorney General says that being unacquainted with the language used he is unable to express a personal opinion, but he has heard complaints on the subject."
Mr. No Achor's views are well deserving of Your Lordship's attention. He regards the inter- pretation in the Supreme Court as "deplorably defective." He thinks sufficient inducement has not been held out to corapetent men to join the Government service as interpreters. He says:--
"In conclusion I may be allowed to remark that, it appears to me, sufficient importance had not "hitherto been attached to the subject of interpretation. It is very rare to find a well educated English. "or Chinese so conversant with the two languages as to be competent to undertake the responsible "duties of a Court interpreter, and when such a person is met with, he would be an invaluable aid to "the administration of justice in this Colony if his services were secured. I am sorry to say that more than one gentleman possessing the requisite knowledge and qualifications of an efficient inter- 'preter, with the additional advantage of some years' experience in a Court of Justice, left the Govern- ment Service for want of increase of salary. As attention is now called to the subject of interpretation "in the Courts of this Colony, I trust that the importance of holding out sufficient inducement to
'competent men to join the Government Service as interpreters may not be overlooked."
The unsatisfactory state of things disclosed in those opinions, recalls the report addressed to the In Duke of NEWCASTLE by Sir HERCULES ROBINSON in despatch No. 39 of the 23rd of March 1861, that despatch the Governor pointed out the want of good interpreters and recommended a scheme for the establisment of Colonial cadetships.
The scheme so recommended had originally been suggested by Dr. LEGGE, It was approved by the Secretary of State and successfully started. Unfortunately, in spite of the remonstrances of Dr. LEGGE it was gradually abandoned.
*
**
*
Dr. LEGGE is now at Oxford, and as a first step towards reorganizing a proper scheme, I venture to suggest to Your Lordship that the whole question might again be submitted to him for his opinion.
I have, &c.,
GOVERNOR HENNESSY TO THE EARL OF CARNARVON.
J. POPE HENNESSY,
GOVERNMENT House, HONGKONG, 7th September, 1877. MY LORD-In my despatch No. 108 of the 6th instant, I had the honour of laying before Your Lordship some examination papers showing that the best English education to be found in this Colony is not as
good as might be expected. I regret to report that a special subject of importance connected to some extent with our general educational system is also in an unsatisfactory state; I refer to the interpretation in our Courts of Law.
Serious complaints from leading merchants, members of the bar, and some of the Chinese com- munity having reached me as to the defective mode in which the interpretation is now conducted, I caused a circular to be sent on the 31st of July to the Judges, Magistrates, and practising barristers inviting them to favour me with their opinions on the subject; I now enclose for Your Lordship's information the various replies of these experienced gentlemen.
2. DEFECTIVE INTERPRETATION IN THE COlonial SecreTARY'S OFFICE.
MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
1. I think the Colonial Secretary's staff should be strengthened by a more efficient Chinese Inter- preter.
one,
2. In the Colonial Office List for 1875 there are two interpreters put down for that Department; but in the lists for 1876 and 1877 only one. That
Mr.
was supposed by my predecessor to be fitting himself, under the system of what was called the Board of Examiners for Chinese studies, to be the Chinese Interpreter for the Colonial Secretary's Office.
Dec.
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