Convicted criminals would be able to change their names five years after completing their sentences if the draft amendments to the Statute of Names (姓名條例), which were approved by the Cabinet yesterday, are passed.
Aborigines would also be able to list their original names in Romanized form along with the Chinese version of their names on their identification cards.
The draft will proceed to the legislature for further review and final approval. Addressing the press conference held after the weekly closed-door Cabinet affairs meeting yesterday morning, Cabinet Spokesman Lin Chia-lung (
"It clearly violates human rights to forbid convicted criminals to change their names," he said.
"It also encroaches on the traditional culture and practical needs of Aboriginal people to name themselves with only Chinese names."
Under the draft, certain people would be barred from changing their first name, last name, or both.
Criminals wanted by the law, criminals in custody, criminals sentenced to reformatory training or criminals sentenced to jail terms will be barred from applying for a name change.
Those who are sentenced to reformatory training or jail terms would be eligible to apply for a name change five years after completing their sentences.
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