229
( 36 )
3. I fear, however, that my predecessor's anticipations have not been realized; and that something far better and more practical is required.
4. I have felt this for some time, but the inconvenience of the existing system has become still more pressing since I have complied with the wish of the Chinese that they might be allowed to address the Colonial Secretary direct on public business like any other persons in the Colony, and since I have thought it right that a written reply should be given to every written communication to the Government.
5. On this question I should be glad to learn the Colonial Secretary's views.
(signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY.
18th December, 1877.
REPORT BY THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
18th December, 1877.
I do not know by what authority Mr. ... was designated "Interpreter" in the Colonial Office Lists for 1876 and 1877, as at best he could only have been called a "Student" Interpreter. Even in this, however, he has proved a failure, and as he has abandoned the study of the Chinese language his position is that only of a clerk.
This department is in reality without a recognized Chinese Interpreter, and as Your Excellency has considered it expedient to comply with the wishes of the Chinese community in respect to direct communication with the Executive through the Colonial Secretary's Office,--a change in which I entirely concur,--it is of the greatest importance that the services of a first-class Interpreter should be secured, by whom Petitions may be translated into English, and replies prepared in Chinese.
At present answers are now only given in English, which is objectionable, as the Petitioners are driven to employ Interpreters who, from ignorance of that language, may give somewhat erroneous versions of the real meaning of the answers of the Executive.
Independent of the reasons thus assigned for strengthening the staff of this office by a Chinese Interpreter, I may point out that it is hardly creditable that the Governor of the Colony should be without the means of communicating verbally or in writing in Mandarin or the local dialects with Chinese officials, merchants or residents in the humbler walks of life.
As regards any extra expense which would necessarily be incurred in the Colonial Secretary's Office, I think that some considerable saving should result in the Registrar General's Department from the transfer of much of his work to other departments and the consequent reduction of the number of his employés.
(signed)
J. G. AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG.
No. 115.
( 37 )
DESPATCHES OF THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY,
referred to on pp. 7 and 8.
DOWNING STREET,
7th August, 1873.
SIR,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 129 of the 6th June reporting that a gratuity of $660 has been voted to Mr. FAN-A-WYE, Chinese Clerk in the Registrar General's Office.
I do not understand how such a distinction as that mentioned in the second paragraph of your Despatch has arisen, and I request you to specify the precedents to which you allude, and furnish me with a Report on the reasons for drawing this distinction as to pensions, &c. between Chinese and other servants of the Colonial Government. If valid reasons exist for maintaining it, the Hongkong Pension Minute ought to be altered, but as it at present stands, it appears to me that FAN-A-WYE should have a pension of $192 per annum, instead of the gratuity of $660.
"Paper of Particulars" should be furnished.
In this, and in every case of retirement, a
(addressed to)
Governor Sir A. E. KENNEDY, K.C.M.G., C.B.
HONGKONG.
No. 177.
I have, &c., &c.,
KIMBERLEY.
DOWNING STREET,
22nd December, 1873.
SIR,--I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 216 of the 8th of October explaining your reasons for recommending that Chinese on their retirement from the Public Service should not receive pensions.
I am on the whole inclined, if you are quite satisfied that the Chinese Employés of the Government have not been led to expect pensions, to agree that the existing practice under which gratuities are given in these cases should not be departed from. In that case your proposal as to the gratuity to Mr. FAN-A-WYE might be adopted, as also your suggestion that the general rate for these gratuities should be one month's salary for each year of service.
I must however direct your attention to paragraph 2 of the Hongkong Pension Minute, which appears to hold out to Chinese as well as others complying with its requirements the prospect of a pension. This paragraph will apparently require amendment if Chinese Employés of the Government are to be treated exceptionally.
Among the cases which you quote as precedents, I observe that three which occurred in 1872 do not appear to have been reported to the Secretary of State before the action taken upon them was determined upon; the consequence has been that a practice has been established without due sanction, and I shall be obliged by your explaining how the omission to report these cases occurred,
(addressed to)
Governor Sir A. E. KENNEDY, K.C.M.G., C.B.
I have, &c., &c.,
KIMBERLEY.
229
( 36 )
3. I fear, however, that my predecessor's anticipations have not been realized; and that something far better and more practical is required.
4. I have felt this for some time, but the inconvenience of the existing system has become still more pressing since I have complied with the wish of the Chinese that they might be allowed to address the Colonial Secretary direct on public business like any other persons in the Colony, and since I have thought it that a written reply should be given to every written communication to the Government.
5. On this question I should be glad to learn the Colonial Secretary's views.
proper
J. POPE HENNESSY.
18th December, 1877.
REPORT BY THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
18th December, 1877.
I do not know by what authority Mr.
was designated "Interpreter" in the Colonial Office Lists for 1876 and 1877, as at best he could only have been called a "Student" Interpreter. Even in this, however, he has proved a failure, and as he has abandoned the study of the Chinese lau- guage his position is that only of a clerk.
This department is in reality without a recognized Chinese Interpreter, and as Your Excellency has considered it expedient to comply with the wishes of the Chinese community in respect to direct communication with the Executive through the Colonial Secretary's Office,--a change in which I entirely concur,--it is of the greatest importance that the services of a first class Interpreter should be secured, by whom Petitions may be translated into English, and replies prepared in Chinese.
consequence
At present answers are now only given in English, which is objectionable, as the Petitioners ar in
driven to employ Interpreters who, from ignorance of that language, may give some- what erroneous versions of the real meaning of the answers of the Executive.
Independent of the reasons thus assigned for strengthening the staff of this office by a Chinese Interpreter, I may point out that it is hardly creditable that the Governor of the Colony should be without the means of communicating verbally or in writing in Mandarin or the local dialects with Chinese officials, merchants or residents in the humbler walks of life.
As regards any extra expense which would necessarily be incurred in the Colonial Secretary's Office, I think that some considerable saving should result in the Registrar General's Department from the transfer of much of his work to other departments and the consequent reduction of the number of his employés.
J. G. AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG.
No. 115.
( 37 )
DESPATCHES OF THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY,
referred to on pp. 7 and 8.
DOWNING STREET,
7th August, 1873.
SIR,I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 129 of the 6th June reporting that a gratuity of $660 has been voted to Mr. FAN-A-WYE, Chinese Clerk in the Registrar General's Office.
I do not understand how such a distinction as that mentioned in the second paragraph of your Despatch has arisen, and I request you to specify the precedents to which you allude, and furnish me with a Report on the reasons for drawing this distinction as to pensions, &c. between Chinese and other servants of the Colonial Government. If valid reasons exist for maintaining it, the Hongkong Pension Minute ought to be altered, but as it at present stands, it appears to me that FAN-A-WYE should have a pension of $192 per annum, instead of the gratuity of $660.
Paper of Particulars" should be furnished.
In this, and in every case of retirement, a
Governor Sir A. E. KENNEDY, K.C.M.G., C.B.
HONGKONG.
No. 177.
I have, &c., &c.,
KIMBERLEY.
DOWNING STREET,
22nd December, 1873.
SIR,--I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 216 of the 8th of October explain- ing your reasons for recommending that Chinese on their retirement from the Public Service should not receive pensions.
I am on the whole inclined, if you are quite satisfied that the Chinese Employés of the Govern- ment have not been led to expect pensions, to agree that the existing practice under which gratuities are given in these cases should not be departed from. In that case your proposal as to the gratuity to Mr. FAN-A-WYE might be adopted, as also your suggestion that the general rate for these gratuities should be one month's salary for each year of service.
I must however direct your attention to paragraph 2 of the Hongkong Pension Minute, which appears to hold out to Chinese as well as others complying with its requirements the prospect of a pension. This paragraph will apparently require amendment if Chinese Employés of the Government are to be treated exceptionally.
Among the cases which you quote as precedents, I observe that three which occurred in 1872 do not appear to have been reported to the Secretary of State before the action taken upon them was determined upon the consequence has been that a practice has been established without due sanction, and I shall be obliged by your explaining how the omission to report these cases occurred,
I have, &c., &c.,
Governor Sir A. E. KENNEDY, K.C.M.G., C.B.
KIMBERLEY.
程
?C.
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