690859-1877-Competitive-Examinations-Results-Clerkship-Magistracy — Page 3

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH AUGUST, 1877.

MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

1. I am much obliged to his Lordship the Bishop and the other Examiners for the trouble they have taken, and I will consider what is best to be done with respect to any future Examinations.

2. Meanwhile, we taust endeavour to profit by the results of this open competition, and enable future Candidates, as well as the teaching staff of the Colony, to see the errors that have to be avoided, and to estimate the standard requisite for appointments of this class.

3. Nothing could have been fairer or more practical than the tests applied by the Examiners. The eleven Candidates who were examined, and all of whom failed, were tested in translation from Chinese into English and English into Chinese, and in writing and spelling from dictation.

4. The dictation consisted in the reading aloud by one of the Examiners of a short deposition in English, which had been taken in the ordinary course of business at the Magistrates' Office, and which the Candidates were requested to write down as it was being slowly read out.

5. The Chinese document for translation consisted of a brief instrument of gift, such as frequently comes before the Court in Chinese cases. The English document for translation into Chinese was the deposition already referred to.

6. Let those papers be printed, together with the verbatim result of the dictation as handed in by each of the eleven Candidates, and their translations. Instead of publishing any names it will be sufficient to print the Candidates' numbers as affixed to each paper.

7. Though I am certainly disappointed at the failure of the Candidates at this examination, yet I feel confident some of them will succeed on future occasions. Remembering the difficulty a Chinese youth must experience in translating into English and in writing from English dictation, and, on the other hand, seeing what little progress is made by Europeans in obtaining even a superficial know- ledge of Chinese, it is evident that the Candidates, though they did not reach the requisite standard, showed no small amount of industry and ability.

8. I shall continue to dispose of whatever appointments may be in my gift by a system of open competition similar to that existing in England, believing that the best officers can thus be obtained, and that these public examinations will test and encourage the progress of education in the Colony.

J. POPE HENNESSY.

7

EXAMINATION PAPERS.

The following are the two Examination Papers:

九光

執立休

1.-TRANSLATION FROM CHINESE INTO ENGLISH.

送明送如於

兪立

存此

亞送月緒眞

生女

妻帖初二

十年

一眞實中人亞鳳

日

水深各安天命一送千 兪亞生理安倘或山高 茶禮如有來歷不明係

送等情亦未領過別人

受此教任

並巧亦從

任

麗

明別索允金發

麗金改名朝晚使喚至

於麗 用二大即送 長 其人員補 成

女親親

即手交

亞銀

兪生嫡妻林氏爲因

嬌將家

年視中

生質

篛嫡

夫

嬌年方七歲誕生於

送與葉麗

月二十九

卽補交養乳銀陸拾伍

麗欲

金有

收憑千高係人

轉落

由家妻

立送女帖人係將軍澳

女願九亞願因澳

A deed of Gift made by Yi-Ashang, of Tseung Kwan O, and his lawful wife Lam. In consequence

of poverty, husband and wife after mutual consultation agree to give their daughter, named Akiu, aged years, born in the Yan hour of the 29th day of the 9th moon, to Yip Lai Kam to be received as foster daughter, who immediately is to hand over to A-Shang the suin of $65 as remuneration for the bring- ing up of the child (hitherto). (This sum) Husband and wife have received in full for their own use. The girl from this day passes over to (another) family, and Lai Kam is at liberty to change her name, to use her daily as a servant, and when she is of age to dispose of her as seems to Lai Kam best. If found intractable, Lai Kam is at liberty to transfer her to another family. This is done by the mutual consent of the two families, a public giving and receiving without any extortion or compulsion, or any- thing of the kind. No betrothed money has been received (by the parents for the girl, .e., she is not betrothed to any one). If anything should be found to be wrong in her antecedents, U-Ashang is to be held responsible, but if harm befall the girl hereafter, each party will regard.it as the will of Heaven. On the girl being handed over, there can for ever be no change of purpose, and as evidence this deed of gift is made out and given to Lai Kam to be by him retained as proof.

In presence of a true middle-man,

A Fung.

Kwong Su, 2nd year 9th moon 10th day.

Ü Ashang

Jointly made by and his wife

Lam.