CO129-298 - Governor Sir Blake Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [3-4] — Page 342

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laws regulations and speeches into Chinese and vice versa.

Note: We understand that in the Malay Peninsula the

natives of different parts of China intermingle more Ex

with one another than they do in HongKong and always know

more or less of some dialect other than their own. We do not

think it feasible in HongKong to insist on interpreters

hnowing more than one dialect at the time of their

appointment.

Confidential.

11. So far we have not touched on the

employment of Europeansas interpreters. In efficiency of

interpretation the advantage we think lies with the Chinese

The latter commence with a considerable knowledge of English

acquired in five or six

years study at school, and they are

to naturally able comprehend the numerous sub-dialects of

Lex

their language more readily and can make themselves under-

stood with more ease than a European. But Chinese interpres

ters are subjected in HongKong to a very great temptation

to receive bribes, and as a class they spccumb to it. It is

beyong dispute that the Chinese interpreters at the

Magistracy have been in the habit of receiving large

presents from persons brought before the Court. It is the

general