I agree with Mr Paul Chan that local Chinese surnames must be preserved (“Chinese surnames reflect cultural roots”; Aug 23).

Besides the Hanyu Pinyin “Zhang” becoming “Cheong” in Cantonese or “Teo” in Hokkien and Teochew, the surname is also “Chang” in Singapore, Malaysia and Korea, “Cheung” in Hong Kong, “Chong” in Hakka and “Truong” or “Trang” in Vietnam.

Similarly, a person with the surname “Ng” is probably a Teochew or Hokkien; “Ooi” or “Wee” would be a Hokkien; “Wong” would be a Cantonese; and “Bong” could be a Hakka. But they are the same Chinese surname “Huang”.

The surname “Zheng” becomes “Tcheng” or “Cheng” in Hong Kong, “Cheang” in Macao, “Tay”, ”Tee” or “Teh” for the Hokkien and Teochew in Singapore and Malaysia, and “Dang” or “Dhang” for the Hokchew.

It would be an interesting research area for anthropologists to explore, to find out more about the evolution of surnames in Singapore.

Many of the Chinese clan associations (“huay guan”) were formed for clans of the same surname, such as the Federation of Tan Clan Associations and the Hainan Tan Clan Association.

Eng Choon Hway Kuan, Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan and the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan are examples of dialect associations that still play a significant role in the Chinese communities.

These associations give financial aid and scholarships to the members’ children, as well as organise cultural festivals to unite members and for the younger generation to learn about and experience their heritage.

They are at times open to the public to witness and experience Singapore’s rich multicultural heritage.