CO129-226 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [4-5] — Page 361

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

357

The passing of the vote applied for would, therefore, not only enable Mr. May to keep up his knowledge of Mandarin, but would also help him to perform his duties more efficiently. The sum cannot be said to be excessive. There are many officers of the Government who are granted an allowance almost as large to acquire a knowledge of Chinese, and I am sure that the value received by Government from this outlay does in no way equal that likely to be derived from allowing Mr. May to continue his study of Mandarin at the small cost of fifteen dollars a month.

It has been suggested as a way out of the difficulty that Mr. May should acquire a knowledge of the Cantonese dialect. This question is, however, quite independent of that raised, viz, whether Mr. May is to keep up his Mandarin, and is not offered as a solution of it. In mentioning this matter I wish it to be understood that I do not in any way intend to modify my opinion that every facility should be afforded to Mr. May to continue his study of Mandarin. With this proviso, I have no hesitation in stating that a knowledge of Cantonese would be of great use to Mr. May in the discharge of his official duties, whatever the post he holds, and suggesting that he be allowed to do so.

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357 The passing of the vote applied for would, therefore, not only enable Mr. May to keep up his knowledge of Mandarin, but would also help him to perform his duties more efficiently. The sum cannot be said to be excessive. There are many officers of the Government who are granted an allowance almost as large to acquire a knowledge of Chinese, and I am sure that the value received by Government from this outlay does in no way equal that likely to be derived from allowing Mr. May to continue his study of Mandarin at the small cost of fifteen dollars a month. It has been suggested as a way out of the difficulty that Mr. May should acquire a knowledge of the Cantonese dialect. This question is, however, quite independent of that raised, viz, whether Mr. May is to keep up his Mandarin, and is not offered as a solution of it. In mentioning this matter I wish it to be understood that I do not in any way intend to modify my opinion that every facility should be afforded to Mr. May to continue his study of Mandarin. With this proviso, I have no hesitation in stating that a knowledge of Cantonese would be of great use to Mr. May in the discharge of his official duties, whatever the post he holds, and suggesting that he be allowed to do so.

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357 The passing of the vote applied for would, therefore, not only enable Mr. May Keep up tom his knowledge of Mandarin, but would also help him to perform his duties more efficiently. The sinn cannot be said to be excessive. There are - many officers of the Government who are granted an allowance almost large to a Knowledge of acquire Chinese, and I am sure that the value received by Government from does in this outlay no way equal that likely to be derived from allowing M. Bay to continue his study of Mandarin at the small cost of fifteen dollars a month. It has been suggested as a way way out of the difficulty that m. May should acquire a Knowledge of the Cantonese dialect. This question is, Now however, quite independent of that raised, viz, whether S. May is to keep up his Mandarin, and is not offered as a solution of it. In mentioning this matter I wish it to be understood that I do not in any way intend to modify my opinion that every fasility should be afforded to Mr May to continue his study of Mandarin. With this provics, I have no hesitation in stating that a Knowledge of Cantonese would be of great use to Mr. May in the discharge of his official duties, whatever the post he holds, and suggesting Anay be that th

2026-05-24 20:42:51 · Baseline

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357

The

passing of the vote applied for would, therefore, not only enable Mr. May

Keep up

tom

his knowledge of Mandarin,

but would also help him to perform

his duties more

efficiently. The sinn

cannot be said to be excessive. There

are

- many officers of the Government

who are granted an allowance almost

large to

a Knowledge of

acquire

Chinese, and I am sure that the

value received by Government from

does in

this outlay

no way equal that likely to be derived from allowing M.

Bay

to continue his study of Mandarin at the small cost of fifteen dollars a

month.

It has been suggested as a

way

out of the difficulty that m. May should acquire a Knowledge of the Cantonese dialect. This question is,

Now

however, quite independent of that raised, viz, whether S. May is to keep

his Mandarin, and is not offered as a solution of it. In mentioning this matter I wish it to be understood

that I do not in any way

intend to

modify my opinion that every fasility should be afforded to Mr May to continue his study of Mandarin. With this provics, I have no hesitation in stating that a

Knowledge of Cantonese would be of great use to Mr. May in the discharge of his official duties, whatever the post he holds, and suggesting

CO129-226 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [4-5] — Page 361

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