The immigrants were asked 40 years ago to change to more easily pronounceable versions of their names in exchange for French citizenship. Now some say they want to go back to their original Chinese names.
Founder of Wen Fa, a Chinese community group in French Polynesia, Jimmy Ly, said many people would prefer their original name.
“When almost all of the Chinese community become French in 1973, they were asked to change their name into French transcription,” he said.
“I know there are some people who really are not feeling comfortable with their French name, and so some people feel now that they’re getting old that they will have to go back somewhat to their origin.”
