CO129-210 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [6-7] — Page 307

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

296

dialect is unintelligible alike to a Roman and to a Venetian or Neapolitan, and vice-versâ?

4.

As most of the Chinese residents at Hongkong come from the neighbouring province of Canton, it has been hitherto the custom to send the Cadets for the Civil Service of this Colony to learn the Cantonese dialect.

But really this is almost as if the Attaches of the English Legation at Rome were sent to learn Italian at Turin or Naples.

* It will be recollected that Cavour as a Piedmontese found some difficulty, on the meeting of the first Italian Parliament, from his imperfect acquaintance with the official Italian language; and that even King Victor Emanuel always spoke Piedmontese in his own Family.

Our Cadets know only the colloquial dialect of the trading and working classes in this Colony, and are unable to understand or converse with the educated classes, with the Chinese Mandarins, and with the Chinese Naval and Military Officers who now frequently visit Hongkong.

As I have already observed, much inconvenience has already been felt, and will continue to be felt from this deficiency.

5.

Mr. Justice Russell, Mr. Stewart

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296 dialect is unintelligible alike to a Roman and to a Venetian or Neapolitan, and vice-versâ? 4. As most of the Chinese residents at Hongkong come from the neighbouring province of Canton, it has been hitherto the custom to send the Cadets for the Civil Service of this Colony to learn the Cantonese dialect. But really this is almost as if the Attaches of the English Legation at Rome were sent to learn Italian at Turin or Naples. * It will be recollected that Cavour as a Piedmontese found some difficulty, on the meeting of the first Italian Parliament, from his imperfect acquaintance with the official Italian language; and that even King Victor Emanuel always spoke Piedmontese in his own Family. Our Cadets know only the colloquial dialect of the trading and working classes in this Colony, and are unable to understand or converse with the educated classes, with the Chinese Mandarins, and with the Chinese Naval and Military Officers who now frequently visit Hongkong. As I have already observed, much inconvenience has already been felt, and will continue to be felt from this deficiency. 5. Mr. Justice Russell, Mr. Stewart
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6 296 dialect is unintelligible alike to a Roman and to a Venetian or Neapolitan, and vice-versâ? 4. * eAs most of the Chinese e from the resident at Hongkong come neighbouring province of Canton, it has been hitherts the custom to send the Cadets for the Civil Service of this to learn the Cantonese dialect. Colony this is almost as if the But really Attaches of the English Legation at Rome were * It will be recollected that Cavour as a Piedmontese found | some difficulty, on the meeting of the first Italian Parliament, from his imperfect acquaintance with the official Italian language; and that even King Vistor Emanuel always spoke Family Piedmontese in his own were sent to learn Italian at Turin or Naples. Our Cadets Know only the colloquial dialect of the trading and working classes in this Colony, and are unable to understand. or converse with the educated classes, with the Chinese Mandarins, and with the Chinese Naval and Military Officers who now frequently visit Hongkong. ets I have already observed, much has already been felt, inconvenience and will continue to be felt from this deficiency. 5. Mr. Justice Russell, Mr. Stewart !
2026-05-23 10:39:50 · Baseline
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6

296

dialect is unintelligible alike to a Roman and to a Venetian or Neapolitan,

and vice-versâ?

4.

*

eAs most

of the Chinese

e

from the

resident at Hongkong come

neighbouring province of Canton, it has been hitherts the custom to send

the Cadets for the Civil Service of this to learn the Cantonese dialect.

Colony

this is almost as

if the

But really Attaches of the English Legation

at Rome

were

* It will be recollected that Cavour as a Piedmontese found

| some

difficulty, on the meeting of the first Italian Parliament, from his imperfect acquaintance with the official Italian language; and that even King Vistor Emanuel always spoke

Family

Piedmontese in his own

were sent to learn Italian at Turin or

Naples. Our Cadets Know only the colloquial dialect of the trading and working classes in this Colony, and

are unable to understand.

or converse

with the educated classes, with the

Chinese Mandarins, and with the Chinese Naval and Military Officers

who now frequently visit Hongkong. ets I have already observed, much

has already been felt,

inconvenience

and will continue to be felt from

this deficiency.

5.

Mr. Justice Russell, Mr.

Stewart

!

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