Data Book of Cultural Convention
in Asian Countries
Record of Activity of the AFSIT-SIG for IT Internationalization

Version 1.1

October, 1996

Edited by Takayuki K SATO

Under the trust of
CICC Promotion Committee for International Standardization of Information Technology
Published byCenter of the International Cooperation for Computerization (CICC), Japan
Under the auspices of
the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Japan

Message

The Asian Forum for Standardization of Information Technology(AFSIT), founded in 1987, iscelebrating its tenth anniversary this year. AFSIT has accomplished many results in its activities in thepast. It has promoted exchanging information among standardization organizations in Asia, foundsome new themes of research and joint project, and supported reinforcing standardization activities
by countries in Asia. It is indeed gratifying to know that these activities are receiving high evaluations
internationally.
The environment surrounding information technology is changing greatly, by the striking advances of
IT itself, especially in computers and networks, and borderless trends in industries and economy. As
the result, the importance of standardization of information technology is increasing. Of course, weare continuing positive efforts in the activities of international organizations such as ISO. Besides, inAsian region, it has become necessary to deal with standardization in the field of information
technology for needs of Asia itself from an international perspective.
The Special Interest Group (SIG), which has been undertaking activities by focusing its attention oninternationalization under the framework of AFSIT, has compiled this booklet and this is indeed asignificant achievement. The data taken up in this publication is basic information related to lives
and cultures in countries of Asia and can be considered the foundation for exchanging information
among the various countries and developing general-purpose software. So far, we could not find abook that contained such information in one volume and in this form.
I sincerely hope this publication will make a great contribution to the future development of information
technology in Asia.

Jiro HIRAISHI
Director General,
Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

MessageThis "data book" is a small but significant step towards truly internationalized information technology.
As the history of information technology started in the United States and European Countries,
computers have long been based upon 6 and 8 bit /character architecture, in other words, European
cultural convention. At its early stage, computers could only represent English. Nowadays,
computers are being used in almost all countries in the world, and they should be easily adapted forother languages than English, or other cultural background than European style. Before the notionof "internationalization of information technology", the adaptation could only be possible bytremendous efforts of many computer specialists in each country.
The concept ofinternationalization of information technology suggests that there should be basic "internationalized"
information systems, and that those systems should be easily adapted for any target cultures. The
first step to realize this concept is to collect such cultural conventions as character sets, collating
sequences, representation of date, text format and many others, and to make them available to thefield of information technology.
This book is the very first result of this kind of activities in Asian countries. The book contains forexample a very interesting list of letter style, address format, and so on in 10 Asian countries. Thoseare not only important to our mutual understanding but also invaluable to create truly internationalized
systems and to materialize internationalized information technology.
It is my great honor to have chaired the sixth AFSIT steering committee held in Kuala Lumpur in 1992,
where the proposal to set "internationalization" to be a new common task, and to organize theSpecial Interest Group on "Internationalization" (SIG-I18N) has been discussed and approved.
Thank you very much Professor Eisuke Naito, Mr. Takayuki K. Sato, and all other members of the
SIG expert meetings, to say nothing of the CICC secretariat, for making this activity a reality, andpublishing this fruitful data book. I would sincerely expect this kind of activities be continued.

Shunsuke UEMURA
Professor,
Nara Institute of Science and Technology
ex.-Chairman, Committee for Promotion of Information Technology
International Standardization.

Preface

CICC has been carrying out information technology standardization activities by focusing on its
cooperation with the Asian Forum for Standardization of Information Technology(AFSIT). Through theactivities of this forum, started in 1987, information interchanges have been activated among theparticipants sent from agencies related to standardizing information technology in the ten Asian
countries. These information interchanges have made much contribution to enhancing awareness ofimportance of standardization among the countries including Japan.
At the forum held in Kuala Lumpur in 1992, it was decided to organize a group called
Internationalization Special Interest Group (SIG) under AFSIT. SIG was formed in 1993 to positively
reflect differences in technical specifications based on cultural factors in Asia which will be useful for
activities of international standardization of information technology.
SIG has been aiming at two steps of activities. The first step is a preparing stage corresponding to theactivities on the groundwork for standardization focusing on information interchanges. The other one
is a positive proposal stage which means that SIG will prepare useful material for standards proposing
to an international standardization organization on specific topics.
Information technology is rapidly penetrating into Asian countries. The penetration is accelerated by
the trends of constructing national information infrastructure, open architectures, multi-media and theInternet. Because of the impacts of these trends to the cultures of the countries, we can no longer
neglect these trends. Under these circumstances, cultural differences among participating countries
show an important direction of information technology standardization. The deliberations and studies
on the integration of research and studies on cultural elements by four SIG meetings enabled thispublication of the Data Book of Cultural Convention in Asian Countries.
It is convinced that introducing this data-base to many countries will not only contribute to researchand development activities of information technology, but also contribute greatly to the transmissionof information on Asian cultural backgrounds and customs to the rest of the world. The data book willbe also useful for mutual understanding of Asian cultures.
I wish to thank those organizations and experts in the Asian countries who provided their support andcooperation in publishing this data book. Words are not enough to adequately describe theenthusiasm and efforts devoted by SIG Chairman Prof. E. Naito and Secretary Mr. T.K. Sato who
made significant contributions in organizing SIG and in operating it subsequently.

Shun ISHIZAKI
Chairman, Committee for Promotion of Information Technology
International Standardization.

Message
More than three years since February 1993, over 30 experts form 10 Asian countries have been
involved to establish this "data book." Four times of SIG meetings were organised annual basis. In
between these meetings numerous correspondence were exchanged among the experts through
CICC, Tokyo, the secretariat, in the form of normal air mail or telefacsimile in the beginning, and in theform of E-Mail later on.
In the First SIG meeting held in Singapore in February 1993, Mr. T. K. SATO, the editor of the data
book, took a role of tutor for the group of experts: what is Internationalization vis Localization; what
are possible and probable implications of IT Internationalization in the region as well as to eachparticipating countries; what is the expected roles of SIG experts, and many other small items. This
was the indication of his dedication to the regional cooperative work.
SIG experts were assigned home works since the First meeting, the Second in Tokyo in October
1993, the Third in Tokyo in September 1994. Efforts by the experts culminated steadily. Then,after the Third meeting, rapid and steep common understanding had grown among the SIG experts.
It became drastically easier to discuss cultural conventions. IT development of eachcountry in the same period may have helped the common understanding. When the first draft cameout just before the Last meeting in November 1995, all the experts were confident to the final form of
the report created co-operatively by the professional experts in the Asian region.
All through the entire program of work, Mr. T. K. SATO, kept insisting that the work was the simple
fact finding. But, the listing of cultural convention in the Asian region should act as an important
addition to the framework of ISO/IEC JTC 1 activity on IT Internationalization. The achievement of
the SIG experts have been reported to the JTC 1 / SC 22 / WG 20 at every opportunity that Mr. SATO
came across since he was also acting the editor of an ISO technical report "Information technology Framework for Internationalization" (TR 11017). In this manner, our regional cooperative work
contributed to the international standardization activity.
The current edition, edited and compiled by Mr. SATO himself, shall be the proto type listing of
cultural convention of the region. It is easy to say that there are too many pitfalls, missing items, butthese shall be added and corrected in the future. It is hoped that the work shall be continued
in one way or another to revise and enlarged into the future edition
I would like stress with thanks the importance of the cntribution and the role played by the SIG experts
for the finalization of the current edition.

Eisuke NAITO
Professor,
National Center for Science Information Systems (NACSIS)
Chairman, AFSIT-SIG for IT Internationalization

Contents

Part-1......................................................................................................................... 1

1.01
1.02
1.03
1.04
1.05

Introduction......................................................................................................
The AFSIT........................................................................................................
AFSIT-SIG.......................................................................................................
IT internationalization.......................................................................................
What is Cultural Convention ?.........................................................................
1.05.1
Selection of cultural convention.........................................
1.05.2
Description format of cultural convention..........................
Relation with International Standards and it’s activities...................................

1.06

Part-2
2.01

2.02

2.03
2.04
2.05
2.06

2.07
2.08
2.09
2.10
2.11

2.12

1
2
3
4
5
5
5
6

Country Data of Cultural conventions............................................... 7
Date................................................................................................................. 8
2.01.1
Format............................................................................... 8
2.01.2
Era system........................................................................ 9
2.01.3Name of month (in local language)................................. 10
2.01.3.1 Full name in local expression............................. 10
2.01.3.2 Short name in local expression.......................... 13
2.01.4
Name of day of week in local language............................ 14
2.01.4.1 Full local expression.......................................... 14
2.01.4.2 Short form local expression............................... 16
2.01.4.3 Format............................................................... 17
2.01.5
Week numbering............................................................... 17
Time................................................................................................................. 18
2.02.1Time format....................................................................... 18
2.02.2Time zone and day-light saving time................................. 19
Calendar ......................................................................................................... 20
2.03.1
National holiday................................................................. 20
Number format................................................................................................. 21
Number Rounding............................................................................................ 22
Monetary amount expression.......................................................................... 23
2.06.1
Currency sign.................................................................... 23
2.06.2Format............................................................................... 24
2.06.3
Amount expression in word............................................... 24
Word Representation of Numbers................................................................... 25
Hyphenation of word........................................................................................ 29
ICON and Symbols.......................................................................................... 30
2.09.1
Check marks..................................................................... 31
Writing Direction.............................................................................................. 32
Character size and Spacing............................................................................ 33
2.11.1
Character size................................................................... 33
2.11.2
Line spacing...................................................................... 34
Preferred Font Style......................................................................................... 35
2.12.1
Number of typefaces...................................................... 35
2.12.2
Typical/Popular typefaces................................................. 36
2.12.3
Consideration on typeface design matching information.. 37
2.12.4
Font attribute..................................................................... 37

------index continued-------2.13
Character attribute........................................................................................... 38
2.14
Paper Size....................................................................................................... 39
2.15
Page Margin..................................................................................................... 40
2.16
Page Layout..................................................................................................... 41
2.16.1Page Layout....................................................................... 41
2.16.2
Page number location........................................................ 41
2.17
Business letter format/layout............................................................................ 42
2.17.1Main letter copy................................................................. 43
2.17.2
Envelope........................................................................... 51
2.18
Personal letter format/layout............................................................................ 53
2.18.1Main letter copy................................................................. 53
2.18.2
Envelope............................................................................ 56
2.19
Postal Address format...................................................................................... 58
2.20
Telephone Number Format.............................................................................. 61
2.20.1
Format............................................................................... 61
2.20.2
Country code..................................................................... 62
2.21
Measurement Systems.................................................................................... 63
2.21.1
Temperature Measurement............................................... 64
2.22
Legal and regulatory requirements............................................................... 65
2.23
Message and Dialogue.................................................................................... 66
2.23.1
Languages of country....................................................... 66
2.23.2
Acceptance of English in IT application............................ 67
2.23.3
YES and NO..................................................................... 67
2.23.4Character set.................................................................... 67
2.24
Person’s name (mode of address).................................................................. 68
2.24.1
Basic format of name........................................................ 68
2.24.2
Transformation method in Latin character........................ 69
2.24.3
Short form of name........................................................... 70
2.24.4
Indexing of name.............................................................. 70
2.24.5
Women’s name when married.......................................... 71
2.24.6
Location of personal title and saluting.............................. 71
2.24.7
Title or Saluting in local language and character.............. 73
2.25
Colour usage and significance........................................................................ 74
2.25.1
Colour in national flag....................................................... 74
2.25.2
Colour for defined (and significant) meaning.................... 75
2.25.3
Colour usage or general meaning of colour...................... 76
2.26
Taboo Items..................................................................................................... 77
Annex A

Annex B

Annex C
Annex D
Annex E
Annex F
Annex G
Annex H

Coded Character Set Standard(s).................................................... 78
A.1
International Standard........................................ 78
A.2
National Standards............................................. 78
List of standards............................................................................... 80
B.1
International Standards...................................... 80
B.2
National Standards............................................ 81
National Holidays.............................................................................. 83
Paper sizes....................................................................................... 87
Point size (US/UK vs. European)...................................................... 88
AFSIT member ship.......................................................................... 89
AFSIT Correspondence for IT Standardization................................. 90
List of AFSIT SIG Experts and SIG Participants............................... 92

Part-1
1.01

Introduction

Main body of this book is Country Data of Cultural Conventions (Part 2), which lists Cultural Conventions( ref. to1.05).
These data are collected and assessed by the AFSIT-SIG on Information Technology
Internationalization (AFSIT-SIG on I18N, ref. to 1.03 and Annex H) established in February 1993 under the
Asian Forum of Standardization for Information Technology (AFSIT, ref. to 1.02 and Annex F and G). AFSITSIG on I18N is composed of experts from ten countries in the Asian region.
Brief description is given in the Part 1: AFSIT, parent organization of the SIG, mission and activities of the SIG,
terminology of Internationalization, concept of cultural conventions, relation with international standards and its
activities.
The purpose of the Data Book is, first, to provide a listing of cultural conventions of the AFSIT participating
countries; second, to present basic requirements for Internationalization (I18N) from Asian region although theparticipating countries are limited only ten; third, to present a proto-type set of cultural conventions, which shallbe expanded in Asian region with larger participation from the region and of other regions, thus to show thepossibility and potentiality.
It has been an urgent need for IT Internationalization to collect and cumulate the cultural convention. In
Western languages, the cultural convention data has been cumulated substantially by international activities
such as the International Standardization Organization (ISO) as well as by information industries and alreadyapplied in part to information products and services. However, the Asian Requirements to Internationalization,itself of a problematic concept and contents, has not been presented yet. Therefore, the need has been
regarded as if it does not exist of consumer of information and information products and services in Asian region
which have tremendous potential as the information market.
The Data Book tries to be a solution to this situation based on the international cooperative work in the Asian
region.
Another result in parallel to the Data Book, if we may say, is that the four year international work created a panelof experts in the field of IT Internationalization and/or IT standardization in the region. Discussion andcooperative work on non-simple task created not only this Data Book but also a group of experts with newexperience and discernment. They shall certainly form a basis of further regional cooperation.

Acknowledgment
Thanks go to the SIG Experts from ten Asian countries for their patient and enthusiastic work as well as to the
SIG Secretariat especially Mr. Yoshioki KANAE. Without his devoted prompting to the SIG members, the Data
Book may have not been published. During the five years of work between 1992 and 1997, the executive
directors of the Center of International Cooperation for Computerization (CICC), Mr.Yoshihide TSUJI, Mr.
Kazumasa KOBAYASHI and Mr. Tatsuo TANAKA always paid special attention not only for financing the work
but also for keeping harmony of the SIG experts from different cultural background. Thanks are also extended
to INSTAC of the Japanese Standards Association (JSA), the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology(AIST) of JAPAN (MITI), especially to Mr. Koji TANABE, then the representative of CICC/Singapore. Our last
thanks, on behalf of the SIG-experts, go to Dr. Shunsuke UEMURA, Professor of NARA Advanced ResearchInstitute, who founded the SIG as the then chair person of the AFSIT and set the direction of our work.

1.02

The AFSIT

In 1987, the Asian Forum for Standardization of Information Technology (AFSIT) was organized centering on
governmental agencies in Asian countries who have a large initiative on IT standardization to more positively
promote standardization technology exchange with experts in the Asian countries in the information field.
The Secretariat of the AFSIT is in the Center of International Cooperation for Computerization (CICC) with thecollaboration of the INSTAC of the Japanese Standards Association (JSA) under the auspices of Agency ofIndustrial Science and Technology (AIST) of JAPAN (MITI) for purposes of:lExchange of information on IT standardization and on preparation of international standards;lConsulting services on IT standardization
Activities of the AFSIT are comprised:l
AFSIT-Forum: annual meeting for exchanging information among Asian countries;l"News-SITE": bi-annual international newsletter on IT standardization;
andl
AFSIT-SIG on i18n: experts meeting on i18n.
AFSIT Country Member are China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore and Thailand. The AFSIT membership is one representative from one member country, mostly
from governmental organizations related to IT standardization. (see Annex F and G for detail)AFSIT-Forums
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9

Meeting Theme
Date
Place
Character Sets
Sep. 14, 1987
Tokyo
Input & Output
Mar. 10, 1989
Tokyo
Processing & Printing of Text
Dec. 9, 1989
Singapore
Database
Oct. 24, 1990
Tokyo
Character Coding in Each Country
Oct. 23, 1991
Tokyo
Open Systems & Networking
Aug. 10, 1992
Kuala Lumpur
Universal Code Sets and Internationalization
Oct. 22, 1993
Tokyo
International Networking & National Character Sets Set. 28, 1994
Tokyo
Standardization Policies of Asian Countries and Methods for Implementing Standardization
Cooperation in the Future
Nov. 22, 1995
Tokyo

1.03

AFSIT-SIG

In July 1992, a proposal
was made by CICC to setting up a SIG (Special Interest Group) on
internationalization (i18n) of IT within the framework of the AFSIT with the following scope:lPromote IT standardization in Asia, particularly paying attention to "Internationalization";l
Provide information to the Asian countries on trends especially on internationalization of technology within
the scope of ISO/IEC JTC 1 (SC22 WG20);
l
Identify, analyze, consolidate information among Asian countries, needed for IT internationalization, andthe results will be reflected to ISO/IEC JTC1 standards [through each national channels];lEstablish a human network with standardization expertise of the Asian countries and maintain and expand
this network.
The proposal was approved by the AFSIT Steering Committee held on August 9, 1992 in Kuala Lumpur, and acall for experts was sent to the AFSIT members.
Mission of the SIG was defined as:lConceptualization of internationalization (I18N) of IT;lPromotion of IT Internationalization;lPromotion of IT standardization in the Region.
The initial tasks were defined to achieve understanding of:ldomestic situations of SIG members (country reports);lthe concept of I18N, Culture dependent items;lQuestionnaires, which aims at fact-finding, not opinion poles.
And the SIG expert meetings were held:
SIG-1
February 7-8, 1993
Singapore, supported by CICC, JSA/INSTAC and the National Computer
Board (NCB), Singapore.
SIG-2
October 21, 1993
Tokyo, supported by CICC and JSA/INSTAC
SIG-3
September 28, 1994 Tokyo, supported by CICC and JSA/INSTAC
SIG-4
November 21, 1995 Tokyo, supported by CICC and JSA/INSTACThe SIG Membership is shown in Annex H.

1.04

IT internationalization

For broader utilization of information technology, a “Friendly User Interface for any user” is a very essential.
The friendliness is achieved when:l
Input and Output communication to/from a system is in user’s language in it’s characterl
The character data is processed in natural rule for (normal way of) the user (e.g. sorting)lPresentation of cultural conventions (such as date format) becomes natural to the user
The process to adapt a system for target culture is called “localization’, “nationalization”, “cultural
customization” or “internationalization”. The process was performed by modifying the original system, Thismethodology is the easiest approach. However, the method has fundamental problems of “Cost”, “Resource
requirement”, “Release Timing” and “Inter-operability”.
To resolve the problems, ISO/IEC DTR 11017 “Framework for Internationalization” recommends:l
To design a system with “empty containers” for “culturally dependent” datalTo fill the container with any “data in target culture”
The former process to design “culturally empty” system is called “INTERNATIONALIZATION” andthe later process to fill the “data” in the “empty container” is called “LOCALIZATION” in the DTR.
The INTERNATIONALIZATION/LOCALIZATION model has an advantage of:l
An INTERNATIONALIZed system, in principle, can be LOCALIZED into any selected target culture(s)lIn-depth knowledge of target system is not necessary for LOCALIZATIONl
The necessary time for LOCALIZATION is shorter than traditional methodlTime taken to design INTERNATIONALIZed system is not much longer than designing the original systemlInter-operability between LOCALIZed systems are high“Internationalization” in this data-book is the “INTERNATIONALIZATION” in ISO/IEC DTR 11017.
rem-1:

ISO/IEC DTR 11017 is in DTR ballot as of May 1996.

1.05

What is Cultural Convention

This databook describes cultural convention data for information technology for AFSIT countries.
Cultural convention is defined as “A convention of an information system which is functionally equivalent
between cultures, but may differ in presentation, operation behavior or degree of importance” in ISO/IEC DTR
11017 “Framework for internationalization”.
There are too many items to list all the culturally dependent items in Information Technology (IT). For example,
there are so many Taboo Items in each culture, it is very difficult to select which taboo item to include in thisdatabook or which should not.
Rule of thumb to decide for inclusion is as follows:
Assume sales process of a system. If customer says that principle of system is acceptable, but can not place anorder due to the user-interface, saying that “because presentation in our custom is different”. And if the custom
is not “organizational and/or custom of profession”, then it must be a cultural convention that should be
described in this data book.
In this sense, there is no cultural convention out from Taboo even there aremany taboo items in general sense.

1.05.1

Selection of cultural convention

As technology progresses and/or customer demand evolves, variety of cultural conventions to be supported byinformation system will be broader. The broader the application, the more cultural conventions to be supported.
We are shooting moving target. Thus, it is very difficult to define single fixed set of cultural conventions for IT
application to be relevant forever.
Therefore, in this databook, items for inclusion are selected more than what are supported in current information
technology. Rather, this databook describes cultural conventions not only those needed today but also is
including what may (may not) be supported in a systems in future. Thus, it is not necessary for a user of thisdatabook to support all cultural conventions described in this databook.
However, it is necessary to list as many cultural conventions as possible in this databook, so that the “empty
containers” for future additional cultural conventions are of the “right size and right shape”.

1.05.2

Description format of cultural convention

Cultural convention data in this databook is in descriptive text. For real use of cultural data in information
systems, it is necessary that the cultural convention data should be in machine readable form and in a mutuallyagreed format.
Since the format is not specified yet, for the purpose of utilization of data in real information systems, it isnecessary to convert the data in this databook to machine readable form and in a mutually agreed dataexchange format.

1.06

Relation with International Standards and it’s activities

ISO/IEC JTC1 SC22 (Program Language) WG20 (Internationalization) is the related international
standardization activity.
A technical report (TR) “ISO/IEC TR 11017 Framework for internationalization” is in development process (atDTR as of Jan. 96). The TR needs to describe all necessary cultural conventions. Feedback for Asian culturalconventions was taken cared from the SIG via Japanese national body, and also cultural conventions requiredfor other region were carried to the SIG via Japanese expert in the WG20. Consistency is maintained between
the TR and this databook through the informal and invisible communication channel. This is the first contributionthat the SIG was made for the international standards
As per INTERNATIONALIZATION/LOCALIZATION principle, data of the cultural conventions is not always
necessarily standardized. Any data to be filled into the “empty container”, and whatever the data filled, themeaning of the data should be same regardless of the representation.
Besides, the “empty container” should be “right size and right shape’. The size and shape (method to specify
the data in system) of the container should be standardized clearly enough. A project for “Cultural convention
specification method” has opened at the WG20. Cultural convention data in this databook should be taken in toaccount in the specification. Again the WG20 members in AFSIT member countries will feedback the data forthe project such that the “container size and shape” does fit to any of Asian requirements. This will be thesecond contribution from the SIG activity for the international standard.
Even though cultural convention data themselves are not necessarily standardized in theory, it can be used as abase of National Profile, Default data for the country etc., when it is necessary to define this data.
(If needed, those profiles to be registered for open public use) This “base for profiling” to be the thirdcontribution of the SIG activities.
Still there are many countries, regions or minority groups where cultural convention data are not clear outside of
the group (or even within the group sometime). For those group, this databook will be used as a template forreference to provide their cultural convention data opened. This will be fourth contribution of this databook.

Part 2

Country Data of Cultural Conventions

This part describes detailed data of cultural conventions of AFSIT member countries.
Usually, the data are NOT mandatory, rather, it represents the majority of the region. Thus, other convention
data can be also used in the region (as alternative, by chance and/or by application field).

“How to read PART-2?”
Country (or Region) is in Alphabetical order of daily/simplified (not full formal) name in English
Some of the data are expressed by using local character(s).
in HEX form are associated with the local character(s).

Character code(s) (ID) of ISO/IEC 10646-1: 1993

Special notice is needed for Hangul. The code for Hangul in ISO/IEC 10646-1 is in the process of revising(Amendment-5: 1996). However, the old code value is shown in this data book.
The first edition of this databook does not have character ID information described above for Jawi. When it isavailable, ISO/IEC 10646-1 code data on Jawi character (Malaysia) requires another special notice. Jawi
character has a nature of presentation form variation. Character changes it’s shape according to it’s position
within a word for same character. Some character coding systems assign different code for each forms andother character coding system code one code for all of the different shapes. ISO/IEC 10646-1, in principle,
does assign one code for all shapes, but also including some variation of shapes for compatibility purpose.
(Thus it is mixed status) Therefore, ISO/IEC 10646-1 code for Jawi character in this databook are:Code for base character; when separated code for presentation form is NOT available.
Code for presentation form: when separated code for presentation form is available
Symbols:n/a :not applicableor

not available

note-x:additional information for the data/description designated by same “note-x” in the same section or
sub-section

rem-x

additional information for the section or sub-section

rem-1:

related standards

ISO 3166, JIS X 0304

Part 2

Country Data of Cultural Conventions

This part describes detailed data of cultural conventions of AFSIT member countries.
Usually, the data are NOT mandatory, rather, it represents the majority of the region. Thus, other convention
data can be also used in the region (as alternative, by chance and/or by application field).

“How to read PART-2?”
Country (or Region) is in Alphabetical order of daily/simplified (not full formal) name in English
Some of the data are expressed by using local character(s).
in HEX form are associated with the local character(s).

Character code(s) (ID) of ISO/IEC 10646-1: 1993

Special notice is needed for Hangul. The code for Hangul in ISO/IEC 10646-1 is in the process of revising(Amendment-5: 1996). However, the old code value is shown in this data book.
The first edition of this databook does not have character ID information described above for Jawi. When it isavailable, ISO/IEC 10646-1 code data on Jawi character (Malaysia) requires another special notice. Jawi
character has a nature of presentation form variation. Character changes it’s shape according to it’s position
within a word for same character. Some character coding systems assign different code for each forms andother character coding system code one code for all of the different shapes. ISO/IEC 10646-1, in principle,
does assign one code for all shapes, but also including some variation of shapes for compatibility purpose.
(Thus it is mixed status) Therefore, ISO/IEC 10646-1 code for Jawi character in this databook are:Code for base character; when separated code for presentation form is NOT available.
Code for presentation form: when separated code for presentation form is available
Symbols:n/a :not applicableor

not available

note-x:additional information for the data/description designated by same “note-x” in the same section or
sub-section

rem-x

additional information for the section or sub-section

rem-1:

related standards

ISO 3166, JIS X 0304

2.01

Date

Date expressions vary from country to country.
There are those main differences:a. Format differenceb. Whether using era system or notc. Month and day of week in local language

2.01.1

Format(DATE)

There are two elements for Date Format, one is sequence of data and another is data separator.
Data Sequence:

There are 3 kinds of date formats:Type-1 : ddmmyy
Type-2 : yymmdd
Type-2C*
Type-3 : mmddyy(Day, Month, Year)(Year, Month, Day)
(Month, Day, Year)* Type-2C; (Era name if needed) yy 年 mm 月 dd 日年(5E74), 月(6708), 日(65E5)

This is special (Chinese) version of the Type-2.

rem-1: Type-2C data sequence is also “data separator in local character”
Data Separator:

There are 4 kinds of data separator:

Type-1: Space as data separator
Type-2: Dash as data separator
Type-3: Slidus as data separator
Type-4: Period as data separator

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailandnote-1:note-2:
note-3:

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

(ex. yy mm dd)(ex. yy-mm-dd)(ex. yy/mm/dd)(ex. yy. mm. dd)
sequence

separator

2, 2C
1, 2, 2C, 3
1, 2
1
2, 2C
2, 2C
1
1, 2, 3
1, 2, 2C, 3
1

1, 2, 3, 4 note-4
2, 3, 4
1, 2, 3
1, 2, 3
1, 2, 3, 4 note-1
3. 4
2, 3
note-22, 3
3
3
note-3

JIS X 0301 specifies Type 1 (yy mm dd) and Type-2 (yy-mm-dd), and Type-4 (nyy.mm.dd) forJapanese Era system (n = M, T, S or H most of the cases). However, in practice, all formats arebeing used in mixed way including yy/mm/dd, nyy/mm/dd and nyy mm dd format.
Also, ddhb.(period) Month name,(Comma) yyyy
dd (Space) haribulan month,(Comma) yyyy
yyyy. (period) Jawi month name (Space) dd formats are in use
Year is in Buddhist Era (B.E.)
day of weekdatemonth nameBuddhist Era(day of week 0E27, 0E31, 0E19)(month 0E40, 0E14, 0E37, 0E19)
note-4:rem-2:(date

0E17, 0E35, 0E48)(B.E. 0E1E, 002E 0E28 002E)

GB/T 7408-94 specifies Type 1 (yy mm dd) and Type 2 (yy-mm-dd) in AD system. However, inpractice, above separators are all used
Related standards: ISO 3307, ISO 8601, GB/T 7408, IS 7900, IS 10934, JIS X 301, KS A 5401,
KS C 5610, PNS 293, TIS 1111

2.01.2

Era system(DATE)

Some countries are using Era system as well as (or instead of) the popular AD system.
The era system are:
Type -M: (mandatory) for formal expression, orType -P: (strong preference), orType -O (optional), orType -R: (rare use).
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailandnote-1:note-2:
note-3:
year of

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

n/a
n/a
Saka calendar
SM
Emperor year
Dangun Era
n/a
n/a
n/a
Buddhist Era (B.E.)

S
P
P
R

note-1note-2
note-3
Dangun Era = AD + 2333 note-4

P

B.E. = AD + 543

note-5

Saka calendar is used in India for civil purpose as well as Gregorian calendar.
Year 1954-55 A.D. corresponds 1876 Saka, 1954 A.D. corresponds 1875-76 Saka
Year starts from the day following the vernal equinox day.
After adding 78 to the Saka Era, if the sum is divisible by 4. then it is a leap year
(Saka calendar is not very popular as compared to Western calendar)
Use SM (Sebelum Masehi) in place of BC. SM is same calendar as BC, but different in name
Japanese Era: Japanese Era name changes from Emperor to Emperor. Heisei is current Era, andShowa, Taisho and Meiji had been used for the past 100 years.
Era name changes at the first day of Emperor, therefore, the ending year of one Era is the starting
following Era (In sense of AD, one year has two Era names). Those two years are not full year,
for example, year of Showa 64 is only 6 days a year (and year of Heisei 1 for the rest).
Starting/Ending day of each Japanese Era:
starting date
Heisei(平成 5E73, 6210) 1989-01-07
Showa(昭和 662D, 548C) 1926-12-25
Taisho(大正 5927, 6B63) 1926-12-24
Meiji(明治 660E, 6CBB) 1912-07-29

ending date
1989-01-06
1912-07-30
1888- *

short form
H
H1 = S64
S
S1 = T15
T
T1 = M45
M
M1 = K4(K for Keio)*Calendar system has switched from Lunar to modern system at early Meiji Era.
Therefore, conversion of date before Meiji (and beginning several years for Meiji) isuseless.
and using such old date in almost all IT application is not necessary.
.
note-4:

Korean Era

Dangun(35B3, 3477)

note-5:

Buddhist Era

B.E.

(0E1E, 002E, 0E28, 002E)

2.01.3

Name of month (in local language)

2.01.3.1

Full name in local expression
China(name of month)
CNA

Hong Kong

一月 (4E00, 6708)
二月 (4E8C, 6708)
三月 (4E09, 6708)
四月 (56DB, 6708)
五月 (4E94, 6708)
六月 (516D, 6708)
七月 (4E03, 6708)
八月 (516B, 6708)
九月 (4E5D, 6708)
十月 (5341, 6708)
十一月 (5341, 4E00, 6708)
十二月 (5341, 4E8C, 6708)

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
AugustSeptember
OctoberNovember
December

India

IND

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
AugustSeptember
OctoberNovember
December(DATE)HKG

一月 (4E00, 6708)
二月 (4E8C, 6708)
三月 (4E09, 6708)
四月 (56DB, 6708)
五月 (4E94, 6708)
六月 (516D, 6708)
七月 (4E03, 6708)
八月 (516B, 6708)
九月 (4E5D, 6708)
十月 (5341, 6708)
十一月 (5341, 4E00, 6708)
十二月 (5341, 4E8C, 6708)(Western Calendar)(091C, 0928, 0935, 0930, 0940)(092B, 0930, 0935, 094D, 091A)(092E, 093E, 0930, 0948, 0932)(0905, 092A, 094D, 0930, 0948, 0932)(092E, 0908)(091C, 0942, 0928)(091C, 0941, 0932, 093E, 0908)(0905, 0917, 0938, 094D, 0924)(0938, 093F, 0924, 092E, 094D, 092C, 0930)(0905, 0915, 094D, 091F, 0941, 092C, 0930)(0928, 0935, 092E, 094D, 092C, 0930)(0926, 093F, 0938, 092E, 094D, 092C, 0930)

India

IND

(Saka Calendar)

January(092E, 093E, 0918)

February(092B, 093E, 0932, 094D, 0917, 0941, 0928)

March(091A, 0948, 0924, 094D, 0917, 0941)

April(092C, 0948, 0936, 093E, 0916)

May(091C, 0947, 092F, 0937, 094D, 0920)

June(0906, 0937, 093E, 095D)

July(0936, 094D, 0930, 093E, 0935, 0923)

August(092D, 093E, 0926, 094D, 0930)

September(0905, 0936, 0935, 093F, 0928)

October(0915, 093E, 0930, 094D, 0924, 093F, 0915)

November(0905, 0917, 094D, 0930, 0939, 0928)

December(091A, 094C, 0937)

Rem-1:

Saka calendar System
in Western calendar

1st month

CHAITRA30 (31 days in a leap year)

2nd month

VAISAKHAJYAISTHA
ASADHASRAVANA
BHADRAASVINA
KARTIKA
AGRAHAYANA
PAUSA
MAGHA
PHALGUNA

31
31
31
31
31
30
30
30
30
30
30

Last month

Indonesia

INA

Japan
JPN
Same as CNA or

MAR 22 common year
MAR 21 leap year
APR 21
MAY 22
JUN 22
JUL 23
AUG 23
SEP 23
OCT 23
NOV 22
DEC 22
JAN 21
FEB 20Korea
KOR
Same as Japan (or in Hangul)

January

Januari

1 月 (6708)

1

(wol

39DA)

February

Februari

2 月 (6708)

2

(wol

39DA)

March

Maret

3 月 (6708)

3

(wol

39DA)

April

April

4 月 (6708)

4

(wol

39DA)

May

Mei

5 月 (6708)

5

(wol

39DA)

June

Juni

6 月 (6708)

6

(wol

39DA)

July

Juli

7 月 (6708)

7

(wol

39DA)

AugustAgustus8 月 (6708)

8

(wol

39DA)

September

September

9 月 (6708)

9

(wol

39DA)

October

Oktober

10 月 (6708)

10(wol 39DA)

NovemberNovember

11 月 (6708)

11(wol 39DA)

December

Desember

12 月 (6708)

12(wol 39DA)

Malaysia
Malay

MAS
Jawi

January

Januari()

February

Februari

()

March

Mac

()

April

April

()

May

Mei

()

June

Jun

()

July

Julai

()

AugustOgos()

September

September()

October

Oktober()NovemberNovember

December

Disember()()

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
AugustSeptember
OctoberNovembeDecemberPhilippines
PHI
In English or

Singapore

Enero
Pebrero
Marso
Abril
Mayo
Hunyo
Hulyo
AgostoSeptembre
OktubreNobyembre
Disyembre

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
AugustSeptember
OctoberNovember
December

SIN

Thailand THIJanuary
February
March(0E21, 0E01, 0E23, 0E32, 0E04, 0E21)(0E01, 0E38, 0E21, 0E20, 0E32, 0E1E, 0E31, 0E19, 0E18, 0E4C)(0E21, 0E35, 0E19, 0E32, 0E04, 0E21)

April(0E40, 0E21, 0E29, 0E32, 0E22, 0E19)

May(0E1E, 0E24, 0E29, 0E20, 0E32, 0E04, 0E21)

June(0E21, 0E34, 0E16, 0E38, 0E19, 0E32, 0W22, 0E19)

July(0E01, 0E23, 0E01, 0EDE, 0E32, 0E04, 0E21)

August(0E2A, 0E34, 0E07, 0E2B, 0E32, 0ED4, 0E21)

September(0E01, 0E31, 0E19, 0E22, 0E32, 0E22, 0E19)

OctoberNovember
December(0E15, 0E38, 0E25, 0E32, 0E04, 0E21)(0E1E, 0E24, 0E28, 0E08, 0E34, 0E01, 0E32, 0E22, 0E19)(0E18, 0E31, 0E19, 0E27, 0E32, 0E04, 0E21)

2.01.3.2 Short name in local expression
USA
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
AugustSeptember
OctoberNovember
December

CNA

JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC

MAS

PHI
Local

(name of month)

HKG

IND

n/a

n/a

n/a

PHI
EnglishSIN
English

THI

INA
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Mei
Jun
Jul
Ag
Sep
Okt
Nov
Des

JPN

KOR

n/a

n/a

January

Jan

Jan

Jan

(0E21, 002E, 0E04, 002E)

February

Feb

Feb

Feb

(0E01, 002E, 0E1E, 002E)

March

Mac

Mar

Mar

April

Apr

Apr

Apr

(0E40, 0E21, 002E, 0E22, 002E)

May

Mei

May

May

(0E1E, 002E, 0E04, 002E)

June

Jun

Jun

Jun

(0E21, 0E34, 002E, 0E22, 002E)

July

Jul

Jul

Jul

(0E01, 002E, 0E04, 002E)

August

Ogos

Aug

Aug

(0E2A, 002E, 0E04, 002E)

September

Sep

Sep

Sep

(0E01, 002E, 0E22, 002E)

October

Okt

Oct

Oct

(0E15, 002E, 0E04, 002E)

November

Nov

Nov

Nov

(0E1E, 002E, 0E22, 002E)

December

Dis

Dec

Dec

(0E18, 002E, 0E04, 002E)

n/a(0E21, 0E35, 002E, 0E04, 002E)

2.01.4

Name of day of week in local language(DATE)

2.01.4.1 Full local expression
China
SundayMondayTuesday
WednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday(day of week)

CNA

星期日(661F, 671F, 65E5)
星期一(661F, 671F, 4E00)
星期二(661F, 671F, 4E8C)
星期三(661F, 671F, 4E09)
星期四(661F, 671F, 56DB)
星期五(661F, 671F, 4E94)
星期六(661F, 671F, 516D)

India

Hong Kong

HKG

星期日(661F, 671F, 65E5)
星期一(661F, 671F, 4E00)
星期二(661F, 671F, 4E8C)
星期三(661F, 671F, 4E09)
星期四(661F, 671F, 56DB)
星期五(661F, 671F, 4E94)
星期六(661F, 671F, 516D)

IND

Sunday(0930, 0935, 093F, 0935, 093E, 0930)

Monday(0938, 094B, 092E, 0935, 093E, 0930)

Tuesday(092E, 0902, 0917, 0932, 0935, 093E, 0930)

Wednesday(092C, 0941, 0927, 0935, 093E, 0930)(092C, 0943, 0939, 0938, 094D, 092A, 0924, 093F, 0935, 093E, 0930)

ThursdayFriday(0936, 0941, 0915, 094D, 0930, 0935, 093E, 0930)

Saturday(0936, 0928, 093F, 0935, 093E, 0930)

Indonesia
SundayMondayTuesday
WednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday

INA

Japan

日曜日(65E5, 66DC, 65E5)
月曜日(6708, 66DC, 65E5)
火曜日(7068, 66DC, 65E5)
水曜日(6C34, 66DC, 65E5)
木曜日(6728, 66DC, 65E5)
金曜日(91D1, 66DC, 65E5)
土曜日(571F, 66DC, 65E5)

MingguSenin
SelasaRabu
Kamis
Jum’at
Sabtu

Korea
Hanja

JPN

KOR

(two kinds)
HangulSunday日曜日(65E5, 66DC, 65E5)(ilyoil

3A0E. 39C5, 3A0E)

Monday月曜日(6708, 66DC, 65E5)(wolyoil

39DA. 39C5, 3A0E)

Tuesday

火曜日(7068, 66DC, 65E5)(hwayoil

3CDC. 39C5, 3A0E)

Wednesday

水曜日(6C34, 66DC, 65E5)(suyoil38BD. 39C5, 3A0E)

Thursday木曜日(6728, 66DC, 65E5)(mogyoil

3740. 39C5, 3A0E)

Friday

金曜日(91D1, 66DC, 65E5)(kumyoil

349A. 39C5, 3A0E)

Saturday

土曜日(571F, 66DC, 65E5)(toyoil

3BF9. 39C5, 3A0E)

Malaysia MAS
Malay

Jawi

SundayAhad()

MondayIsnin()

Tuesday

Selasa()Wednesday

Rahu

()

ThursdayKhamis()FridayJumaat()Saturday

Sabtu

()

Philippines PHIIn English or Local

Singapore

LinggoLunes
MartesMiyerkoles
Huwebes
Biyernes
SabadoSundayMondayTuesday
WednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday

SundayMondayTuesday
WednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday

SIN

Thailand THI

Sunday(0E27, 0E31, 0E19, 0E2D, 0E32, 0E17, 0E34, 0E15, 0E22, 0E4C)

Monday(0E27, 0E31, 0E19, 0E08, 0E31, 0E19, 0E17, 0E23, 0E4C)

Tuesday(0E27, 0E31, 0E19, 0E2D, 0E31, 0E07, 0E04, 0E32, 0E23)

WednesdayThursday(0E27, 0E31, 0E19, 0E1E, 0E38, 0E18)(0E27, 0E31, 0E19, 0E1E, 0E24, 0E2B, 0E31, 0E2A, 0E1A, 0E14,
0E35)

FridaySaturday(0E27, 0E31, 0E19, 0E28, 0E38, 0E01, 0E23, 0E4C)(0E27, 0E31, 0E19, 0E40, 0E2A, 0E32, 0E23, 0E4C)

rem-1: ISO 8601 defines day of week numbering

2.01.4.2 Short form local expression
USA

SundayMondayTuesday
WednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday(day of week)

CNA

HKG

SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT

周日( 5468, 65E5)
周一( 5468, 4E00)
周二( 5468, 4E8C)
周三( 5468, 4E09)
周四( 5468, 56DB)
周五( 5468, 4E94)
周六( 5468, 516D)

周日( 5468, 65E5)
周一( 5468, 4E00)
周二( 5468, 4E8C)
周三( 5468, 4E09)
周四( 5468, 56DB)
周五( 5468, 4E94)
周六( 5468, 516D)

INA

JPN

KOR
HangulIND

Hanja

Sunday日(65E5)(3A02 )日(65E5)

Monday月(6708)(39DA)

月(6708)

Tuesday

火(7068)(3CDC)火(7068)水(6C34)(38BD)

水(6C34)Thursday木(6728)(3740) 木(6728)

Friday金(91D1)(349A)

金(91D1)

Saturday

土(571F)(3BF9)土(571F)

Wednesday

n/a

MAS

PHI

SIN

THI

Sunday

Aha

Sun

Sun

Monday

Isn

Mon

Mon

(0E08, 002E)

Tuesday

Sei

Tue

Tue

(0E2D, 002E)

Wednesday

Rab

Wed

Wed

(0E1E, 002E)

Thursday

Kha

Thu

Thu

(0E1E, 0E24, 002E)

Friday

Jum

Fri

Fri

(0E28, 002E)

Saturday

Sab

Sat

Sat

(0E2A, 002E)(0E2D, 0E32, 002E)

English

Local

Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

n/a

2.01.4.3

Format(day of week)

The location of day of week when writing date is culturally dependent. In some cultures, the written format isdifferent from the spoken one.
Type-1: Before the dateType-2: After the dateType-A: Sunday is the first day of a week
Type-B: Monday is the first day of a week
In Local character(writing)
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand2.01.5

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

2
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
1

Week numbering

In phonetic(speaking)First day

2
2
2
1
1,2
2
1
2
1
1

B
A
B
A
A, B
A
B
A
B
A, B

(DATE)

There are three different ways of numbering the weeks
Type-1:
Type-2:Type-3:

Week 1 is the week including January 1st.
Week 1 is the week starting first Sunday of the year
Other than 1 and 2 (if any, specify)

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailandnote-1:note-2:
rem-1:

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

1,2
2
n/a
n/a
1,2
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

note-2
No official week numbering is used
No official week numbering is used
No official week numbering, it is organization dependent
No official week numbering is used
No official week numbering is used
No official week numbering is used
No official week numbering is used
No official week numbering is used

note-1note-1note-1

There is a week numbering within a month, 1st week is a week including 1st day of the month
GB/T 7408 specifies the first calendar week of the year is the one that includes the first Thursday of
the year. In the Gregorian calendar, this is equivalent to the week which includes 4 January.
related standard; KS A 5402

2.02

Time

Expression of time differs from culture to culture.
The elements of the difference are:a. System (12 or 24 hours as a unit)b. Hour, Minutes, Second separator
c. Time zone and applicability of daylight saving system

2.02.1Time format(TIME)

There are 2 kinds of time formats:Type-1: 24 hour system
Type-2: 12 hour system

In case of 12 hour system, am/pm annotation is usually requiredStandard format
type(s)China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia

CNA
HKG
IND
INA

1, 2
1, 2
1, 2
1, 2

Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore

JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN

1, 2*
1, 2
2
1, 2
1, 2

ThailandTHI

1note-1:

Location Time separatorof am/pm
5:45 am Colon(:)
5:45 am Colon(:)
5.45 am Period(.)
05.45 tttt (TZO) Period(.)
note-1, note-2
leading zero is usually needed
5:45 am Colon (:)
note-3
5:45 am Colon (:)
5:45 mmm
note-4
5:45 am Colon (:)
5 AM
5 am
5:45 amn/a note-5
Colon (:) or Period (.)

note-5:

When 12hr. system is used, tttt (below) should be used in place of am/pm
From
05 to 09hr
tttt = pagi
09 to 17= siang
17 to 18
= sore18 to 24
= malam
00 to 05
= dinihari
TZOTime Zone See 2.02.2 Indonesian Time Zone
JIS X 0302 defines 24 hour system but practice is differentmm (below) should be used in place of am/pm
At0hr
mm = tengah malanFrom
01 to 11hr
= pag
at 12hr= tengah hari
13 to 18hr
= petang
19 to 23hr
= malam
THI does not use am/pm system in Thai culture at all, THI use am/pm only in English document

rem-1:

Related standards: ISO 8601, GB/T 7408, JIS X 302, PNS 293, TIS 1111

note-2:
note-3:note-4:tttt

Traditional format
type(s)Location of am/pm and Time separator
上午 hh
mm 分
上午 hh 時 mm 分
Same as US

下午 hh
mm 分
下午 hh 時 mm 分
Same as US

午前 hh 時 mm 分

午後 hh 時 mm 分

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia I
Japan

CNA
HKG
IND
NA
JPN

2
2
1, 2
n/a
2

Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore

KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN

2
n/a
n/a
2

Same as CNA

ThailandTHI

1

hh:mm or hh.mm

hh

hh

mm

hh

mm

Same as CNA
to be read asmm

rem-1:
上午(4E0A, 5348), 下午(4E0B, 5348),
午前(5348, 524d), 午後(5348, 5F8C),(39A1, 3CF3),(38E8),(65F6), 分(5206)
時(6642), 分(5206)(37DB),( 39A1, 3CF3)(0E19, 0E32, 0E2C, 0E34, 0E01, 0E32)

2.02.2(0E19, 0E32, 0E17, 0E35)

Time zone and day-light saving time

(TIME)

Besides the difference in format, the expression of time ranges from country to country.
Time zone system;
Time difference from GMT
Day light saving time (from/to when)Time zonedifference from GMT Day light saving
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN

n/a
n/a
n/a
WIB (West INA time)
WITA(Central INA time)
WIT(East INA Time)
n/a

+8:00
+8:00
+5:30
+7:00
+8:00
+9:00
+9:00

Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

+9:00
+8:00
+12:00
+8:00
+7:00

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
(under consideration)
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

2.03

Calendar

It is noticed that Western (or modern) calendar is usually adopted as the official calendar in most of countries
surveyed. Other calendars such as Lunar calendar, Islamic calendar are used for customary ceremonies orreligious purposes.
Type -1: Western Calendar
Type -2: Lunar Calendar
Type -3: Islamic Calendar
Type -4: Other Calendar
Official Calendar
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

1
1
1, 4 (Saka)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

Other Calendar
224 (Vikram Samvat)
3 (Sometime)
2
2
3
n/a
2, 3, 42

rem-1:

See 2.01.3.1 for additional information for Saka calendar of India

2.03.1

National Holiday

For national holiday information, refer to Annex C2.04

Number format

The format to express number has three elements.
a. Location of the digit separator (normally called thousands separator) location.
b. Symbols used for the digit separations and decimal point.
c. Positive/Negative number sign.
For location of digit separator, each 3-digits (thousand) is the most popular way, but there are also other cases.
Note that even if 3-digits is popular in Arabic numbers, it might be different when number is expressed andwritten or spoken in local language, (for details refer to Word expression of number)
For symbols, there are two popular cases, but there are also other exceptional symbols used.
Type -1:
Type -2:

12,345,678.901
12.345.678,901, (comma) for digits separator, and . (period)for decimal point. (period) for digit separator, and , (comma) for decimal point
Digit separator

Symbol1
1
space:
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1

China
HongKong

CNA
HKG

3 digits
3 digits

India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

3 (2) digits
3 digits
3 digits
3 digits
3 digits
3 digits
3 digits
3 digits

note-1:note-2:

There are two digit separators used in Hong Kong. For monetary amount, it is comma likemany other countries (Type-1). Besides, for other than monetary amount, space can also be used.
2 digits system:
12, 34, 567.89 separator is needed for each 2 digit for beyond 1000.

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailandnote-1:note-2:
note-3:note-4:(for monetary amount)note-1for other than monetarynote-2 separator for each 2 digits are needed

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

Positive

Negative sign

Locationno sign or +no sign or +no sign or +no sign or +no sign or +no sign or +no sign or +no sign or +no sign or +no sign or +- (minus)- (minus), ( )- (minus)- (minus)- (minus), △,( )- (minus), △,( )- (minus), ( )- (minus)- (minus), ( )- (minus)

beginning note-1
beginning note-1, note-2, note-3
beginning
beginning
beginning note-2, note-4
beginning note-2, note-4
beginning note-1, note-2
beginning
beginning note-1, note-2
beginning note-1

Numbers in red ink means negative numbers for accounting application
Numbers in bracket means negative numbers for accounting application
DR and CR also use for accounting.
△ is used for accounting mostly.
Word (in) RED CHARACTER means minus bottom line
(It may and may not be written in normal ink with negative sign or red ink without negative sign)2.05

Number Rounding

Four number rounding methods have been identified for inclusion in this data book.
Type-1:

The higher integral multiple is selected as rounded number
nnn.0
nnn.5

through nnn.4 round to nnn
through nnn.9 round to nn(n+1)

nnn.nn0 through nnn.nn4 round to nnn.nn
nnn.nn5 through nnn.nn9 round to nnn.n(n+1)(ISO 31-0:1992
Type-2:Annex Bex. 123.4 --> 123
ex. 123.5 --> 124
ex. 123.454 --> 123.45
ex. 123.455 --> 123.46

B.3 rule B)

The even integral multiple is selected as the rounded

numberex. 123.45 --> 123.4
and 123.55 --> 123.6(ISO 31-0:1992

Annex B B.3 rule A)

Type-3:

nnn.nn1 and nnn.nn2
round to nnn.nn0
nnn.nn3 through nnn.nn7 round to nnn.nn5
nnn.nn8 and nnn.nn9round to nnn.n(n+1)0

ex. 123,452 --> 123.450
ex. 123.454 --> 123.455
ex. 123.458 --> 123.460

Type-4:nn.(n-1)76 through nn.n25 round to nn.n0
nn.n26 through nn.n75 round to nn.n5

ex. 123.325 --> 123.30
ex. 123.326 --> 123.35
and 123.376 --> 123.40

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailandrem-1:

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

Above country data are not considered any CEILING and/or FLOOR types of rounding.
Those are rather application (such as Accounting/Taxing) dependent rounding.
CEILING: 123.011 --> 123.02
FLOOR: 123.019 --> 123.01

rem-2:

Related standards:

ISO 30-0, IS 2, JIS Z 8401, KS A 0021

2.06

Monetary amount Expression

Expression of monetary amount has two basic elements:
1:

a. Currency sign.
b. Currency amount format.
c. Amount (number) expression.

2:

a: Currency sign to be defined for Local character, Latin (or Latin like) character and International.
And also placement (before, middle and end of number) are different.
b: Currency amount format might different between cultures.
c: Amount expression normally follows number format of the country (with exception) and word
representation of number of the culture.

2.06.1

Currency sign

(MONETARY)

Typically, there are three or more kind of currency signs that are used for the same currency.
One is currency sign in local character (which is usually a base and legally correct currency sign).
Second is currency symbol (like $ sign) for easy use. This sign usually is in Latin character like design.
Third one is international use to avoid ambiguity between similar currency name and sign.
in Local ch.
元(5143)元(5143)

China
Hong Kong

CNA
HKG

India

IND

Indonesia
Japan

INA
JPN

Korea

KOR

Malaysia

MAS

RM

Philippines
Singapore

PHI
SIN

S$

ThailandTHI

12,345.67 元
12,345.67 元￥12,345.67$12,345.67

CNY
HKD

Rs

Rs.12, 345.67

INR

Rp￥(00A5or FFE5)

Rp12.345,67￥12,345.67

IDR
JPY

12,345.67

KRW

RM12,345.67(20A9
or FFE6)
RM

RM12,345.67

MYR

12,345.67
S$12,345.67

PHP
S$

PHP12,345.67
S$12,345.67

PHP
SGD

12,345.67

THB

12,345.67
Rp12.345,67
12,345.67 円(39D9)

12,345.67(n/a)

interternational￥(00A5)$(0930, 0941, 002E)
Rp
円(5186)in Latin ch.

(0E1A, 0E32, 0E17)(0E3F)

12,345.67

1 元(5143)(yuan) =10 角(89D2)(jiao)
1 角(jiao) = 10 分(5206)(fen)(Hong Kong) dollar
1 dollar = 100 cent 1 元(5143) = 10 角(89D2)
1 毫(6BEB ) or 1 角 = 10 cents 1 分 = 1cent(Indian) rupee
1Rs = 100 paisa
rupiah1Rp = 100 sen
yen(pronounce en, custom is to spell yen) 1yen = 100 sen
sen 銭 (92AD) 1sen = 10 rin 厘 (5398)
rear use

China

CNA

yuan (Renminbi)

Hong Kong

HKG

India
Indonesia
Japan

IND
INA
JPN

Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore

KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN

won
(Malaysian) ringgit(Philippines) peso
(Singapore) dollar

1 Won = 100(jon
1RM = 100sen
1peso = 100 centavos
1 dollar = 100 centsThailand

THI

baht

1 baht = 100 stang
stang

3A3B)

(0E2A, 0E15, 0E32, 0E07, 0E04, 0E4C)

2.06.2

Format(MONETARY)

Currency amount format differences are already expressed as a part of currency sign placement.
Note that monetary amount format and number format are same except for Hong Kong.(see 2.04)

2.06.3

Amount expression in word

(MONETARY)

For legal purpose, most countries have a custom to write the monetary amount in word.
Monetary amount expression in spoken language is another cultural dependent item
Both of the above can be categorized into two types:
Type -B: Currency word (sign, unit) at the beginning (before number)Type -E: Currency word (sign, unit) at the end (after number)

China
Hong Kong

CNA
HKG

India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

Writing in local character
Pronounce in local language
E
in English
Bin Chinese
E (with 香港＄ or 港幣 in front)
BE
E (一金 in front when needed)
E
B
E
B
B(in Latin ch. : )E(in Local ch. :rem-1:
rem-2:
rem-3:

香港(9999, 6E2F), 港幣(6E2F, 5E63)
一金(4E00, 91D1)
Related standards: ISO 4217, GB 12408

)

E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E

2.07

Word Representation of Numbers

Sometimes numbers are expressed in word form.
For example, formal expression of monetary amount requires a word representation form in most cases.
Please note that in the case of word representation, placement of a digit separator equivalent (word) may bedifferent from Arabic number. (from each 3 digits to 4 digits in CNA)

easy
form
0
zero
1
one
2
two
3
three
4
four
5
five
6
six
7
seven
8
eight
9
nine
10
ten
11
eleven1x--teen100
hundred1000(K) thousand
10K
ten thousand
100K
hundred thousand
1000K(M) million
10M
ten million
100M
hundred million
1000M(B) billion
10B
ten billion
100B
hundred billion
1000B(T) trillion
10T
ten trillion
100T
hundred trillion.
point

rem-1:

〇
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
十
十一
十x
百
千
万
十万
百万
千万
十
百
千
兆
十兆
百兆
n/a
(点}

CNA
零
壹
貳

complex form
HKG
JPN

零
壹
貳
(53C1) 参肆肆(8086)
伍
伍(9646) 陸(9678)(67D2)
捌捌 (634C)
玖玖 (7396)
拾
拾
拾壹
拾壹
拾x
拾x
佰
佰 (4F70)
仟
仟
万
萬
拾万
拾萬
佰万
佰萬
仟万
仟萬
(4EBF) 億
拾
拾億
佰
佰億
仟
仟億
兆
兆
拾
拾兆
佰兆
佰兆
點(9EDE)n/a(点)

零
壱 (58F1)
弐 (5F0D)参四伍 (4F0D)
六
七
八
九
拾
拾壱
拾x
百
仟
萬
拾萬
百萬
仟萬
億
拾億
百億
仟億
兆
拾兆
百兆
n/a
(点)

KOR-1

SIN

零 (96F6) 〇 (3007)
壹 (58F9) 一 (4E00)
貳 (8CB3)二 (4E8C)
参 (53C2) 三 (4E09)
四四 (56D4)
五五 (4E94)
六六 (516D)
七
七 (4E03)八八 (516B)
九
九 (4E5D)
拾 (62FE) 十 (5341)
拾壹
拾x
百百 (767E)
仟 (4EE0)千 (5343)
萬 (842C) 万 (4E07)
拾萬
十万
百萬
百万
仟萬
千万
億 (5104) (4EBF)
拾億
十
百億
百
仟億
千
兆
兆 (5146)
拾兆
十兆
百兆
百兆
n/a
n/a
(点)
(点(70B9))

All countries use the easy form (with minor difference) as well as complex form of the country.

IND
0

zero

(0936, 0942, 0928, 094D, 092F)

1

one(090F, 0915)

2

two(0926, 094B)

3

three

(0924, 094C, 0928)

4

four

(0941, 093E, 0930)

5

five

(092A, 093E, 0901, 091A)

6six(091B, 0903)

7

seven

(0938, 093E, 0924)

8

eight

(0906, 0920)

9

nine

(0928, 094C)

10

ten

(0926, 0938)

11
1xeleven--teen(0917, 094D, 092F, 093E, 0930, 0939)
n/a

100

hundred(0928, 094C)

1000(K)

thousand(090F, 0915, 0939, 091C, 093E, 0930)

10K

ten thousand(0926, 0938, 0939, 091C, 093E, 0930)

100K

hundred thousand(090F, 0915, 0932, 093E, 0916)(0926, 0938, 0932, 093E, 0916)

1000K(M) million
10M

ten million(090F, 0915, 0915, 0930, 094B, 095C)

100M

hundred million(0926, 0938, 0915, 0930, 094B, 095C)

1000M(B) billion(090F, 0915, 0905, 0930, 0926)

10B

ten billion(0926, 0933, 0905, 0930, 092C)

100B

hundred billion(090F, 0915, 0916, 0930,0926)

1000B(T) trillion(0926, 0938, 0916, 0930, 092C)

10T

ten trillion(090F, 0915, 092A, 0926, 092E)

100T

hundred trillion(0926, 0938, 092A, 0926, 092E)

.

point

(092C, 093F, 0928, 094D, 0926, 0942)(0926, 0936, 092E, 0932, 0935)

INA

KOR-2

0

zero

nol

(3996)

1

one

satu

(3A0E)

2

two

dua

(3A0B)

3

three

tiga

(3858)

4

four

empat

(3850)

5

five

lima

(39A1)

6

six

enam

(39EF)

7

seven

tujuh

(3B5C)

8

eight

delapan(3C3B)

9nine

sembilan(3475)

10ten

sepuluh(38EF)

11

elevensebelas1x--teen--belas100

hundredratus(3796)

1000(K)

thousandribu(3B0E)

10K

ten thousand

puluh ribu

(3707)

100K

hundred thousand

ratus ribu

(38EF, 3707)

1000K(M) million

juta(3796,

10M

ten million

puluh juta

(3B0E, 3797)

100M

hundred million

ratus juta

3707)

(3972)

1000M(B) billion

milyar(38EF, 3972)

10B

ten billion

puluh milyar(3796, 3972)

100B

hundred billion

ratus milyar(3B0E, 3972)(3A53)

1000B(T) trillion

trilyun10T

ten trillion

puluh trilyun(38EF, 3A53)

100T.

hundred trillion
point

ratus trilyyun
titik(3796, 3A53)

0
zero
1
one
2
two
3
three
4
four
5
five
6
six
7
seven
8
eight
9
nine
10
ten
11
eleven1x--teenxyz--ty-z100
hundred1000(K) thousand
10K
ten thousand
100K
hundred thousand
1000K(M) million
10M
ten million
100M
hundred million
1000M(B) billion
10B
ten billion
100B
hundred billion
1000B(T) trillion
10T
ten trillion
100T
hundred trillion.
pointnote-1:
rem-1:

MAS
Malay

PHI

kosong/sifar
satu
dua
tiga
empat
lima
enam
tujuh
lapan
sembilanpuluhsebelas
belas
puluh
ratus
ribu

sero
Iisa
dalawa
tatlo
apat
lima
anim
pito
walo
siyam
sampu
labing-isa
labing-xxx--mput-z
note-1daan
libo
sampung liboisang daang libo
milyonsampung milyon
isang daang milyon
bilyonsampung bilyon
isang daang bilyon
trilyonsampung trilyon
isang daang trilyon
n/a

juta
ribu juta
juta juta
perpuluhan

21 = 20+1 = dalawampt-isa, 22 = 20+2 = dalawampt-dalawa,
20 = dalawa/mupt or 2 X 10 = dalawang sampu
31 = 30+1= tatlumpt -isa, 30 = tatlu/mupt or 3 X 10 = tatlong sampu
In Philippines and Singapore, English representation is also used

THI
0

zero

(0E28, 0E39, 0E19, 0E22, 0E4C)

1

one(0E2B, 0E19, 0E36, 0E48, 0E07)

2

two(0E2A, 02ED, 0E07)

3

three

(0E2A, 0E32, 0E21)

4

four

(0E2A, 0E35, 0E48)

5

five

(0E2B, 0E49, 0E32)

6six(0E2B, 0E01)

7

seven

(0E40, 0E08, 0E47, 0E14)

8

eight

(0E41, 0E1B, 0E49, 0E32)

9

nine

(0E40, 0E01, 0E49, 0E32)

10

ten

(0E2A, 0E34, 0E1A)

11eleven(0E2A, 0E34, 0E1A, 0E40, 0E2D, 0E47, 0E14)

1x--teen(0E2A, 0E34, 0E1A, ----)

100

hundred(0E23, 0E49, 0E2D, 0E22)1000(K)

thousand(0E1E, 0E31, 0E19)

10K

ten thousand(0E2B, 0E21, 0E37, 0E48, 0E19)

100K

hundred thousand(0E41, 0E2A, 0E19)

1000K(M) million(0E25, 0E49, 0E32, 0E19)

10M

ten million(0E2A, 0E34, 0E1A, 0E25, 0E49, 0E32, 0E19)

100M

hundred million(0E23, 0E49, 0E2D, 0E22, 0E25, 0E49, 0E32,
0E19)

1000M(B) billion(0E1E, 0E31, 0E19, 0E25, 0E49, 0E32, 0E19)

10B

ten billion(0E2B, 0E21, 0E37, 0E48, 0E19, 0E25, 0E49,
0E32, 0E19)

100B

hundred billion(0E41, 0E2A, 0E19, 0E25, 0E49, 0E32, 0E19)

1000B(T) trillion(0E25, 0E49, 0E32, 0E19, 0E25, 0E49, 0E32,
0E19)

10T

ten trillion(0E42, 0E01, 0E0F, 0E34, 0E25, 0E49, 0E32,
0E19)

100T

hundred trillion(0E2A, 0E34, 0E1A, 0E42, 0E41, 0E0F, 0E34,
0E25, 0E49, 0E32, 0E19).

period(0E08, 0E38, 0E14)

rem-2:

Related standards are ISO 6093, MS ISO 6093

2.08

Hyphenation of word

Hyphenation rule is different for script and writing system.
China

CNA

Hong Kong
India
Indonesia

HKG
IND
INA

Japan

JPN

Korea
Malaysia

KOR
MAS

Philippines

PHI

Singapore
Thailand

SIN
THI

note-1:Chinese character (ideograph widely used in some of Asian countries) are nothyphenated.
Same as CNA.
note-1Hyphenation is used for following:a. To break up a word along phonetic units
b. Combining word forming a new wordc. Duplicate words to express plurald. To join foreign word with Indonesian prefix and/or endinge. To join prefix with number
Same as CNA.
There is normally no space inserted between words written
in Japanese character, Space is used in order to separate the sentences.
Long word when reach to end of line is normally broken to next line.
Same as CNA
Malay words are hyphenated:
a. to break up a word along phonetic units
b. when combining words forming a new word, andc. when representing number in words
d. No hyphenation in Jawi
Besides the criteria of MAS and note-1, hyphenation is also used
a. when the word is repeating or duplicatedb. when the word is composed of prefix ending with a consonant and a wordbase that belongs with a vowel, andc. when a practice between two combined words is dropped
Same as CNA
and note-1
There is normally no space inserted between words in Thai sentence. Space
are introduced in order to separate the sentences. Certain long word whenreach end of line are hyphenated just like English. Hyphenation rule requires
the insertion point to be the end of syllable..

In the country where English is an (or one of) official language, the international practice of usingphonetic unit as boundaries for hyphenation is applied.

2.09

ICON and Symbols

Requirements about ICON has to be separated into two. One is whether if there are any special (prohibited touse in particular) symbols or not for IT application and/or within normal ICONS. Another is applicability ofinternational guidance in ISO 3864

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailandnote-1:note-2:
rem-1:

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

Special Requirements

ISO 3864 applicability

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

yes
yes

note-2

note-1

yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes

Following JIS standards include special symbols for Japanese use.
JIS X 0208, JIS X 0212, JIS Z 9101 (Japanese Standard) is translated ISO 3864
ISO 3864-1984 had been adopted for Chinese GB2894-1988 identically. Besides this standard,
ISO 7001-1990(Graphical symbols for use on public information signs) has been adapted for
Chinese Standard GB/T 10001-1994 too.
Related standards are ICS 01.080.XX, ISO 2047, ISO 3864, ISO 7001, GB 2894, GB/T10001,
JIS X 0209, JIS Z 9101, JIS Z 9104, KS C 5713, PNS 1082, PNS 1083, PNS 3864

2.09.1

Check Marks(ICON and SYMBOLS)

Style of check marks are culturally dependent. Sometimes it could cause unnecessary misunderstanding.
For example, X mark in a list means NOT AVAILABLE (or negative tone) in Japan and normally ○ is used
for AVAILABLE (or yes)
China

CNA

Hong Kong

HKG

India

IND

Indonesia

INA

Japan

JPN

Korea

KOR

Malaysia

MAS

Philippines

PHI

Singapore

SIN

ThailandTHI

note-1:(2713 check mark) or ○: available, yes, right/true
X: not available(2713 check mark) or Y: available
X, N or SPACE: not available(2713 check mark): right or available, yes or positive meaning
Ｘ : wrong or not available, no or negative meaning○ or ?: Doubtful or not clear
no specific rule(2713 check mark): right/true
Ｘ : wrong: Available, yes or positive meaning
X : Not- available, no or negative meaning△ : Between and X or sometimes yes◎ : Very much yes, super○, or very positive● : Negative, No(2713 check mark): check mark (no special meaning such as yes/no)○ : Available, yes or positive meaning
X : Not- available, no or negative meaning△ : Between and X or sometimes yes◎ : Very much yes, super○, or very positive(2713 check mark): check mark (no special meaning such as yes/no)(2713 check mark): available
Ｘ : not available/ : available (yes)X : not-available (no)(2713 check mark): available
note-1
X : not-available (no)no specific custom for check markIn case of check box, following two mean the sameX
But in list:

is Yes sign, and X
e.g.
apple
orangeX
pears

is No sign
is Yes sign,
is Yes sign
is No sign

2.10

Writing Direction

Writing direction of the text is script (thus cultural) dependent.
There are four different cases of writing direction available.
Type-1:
Type-2:Type-3:

Horizontal writing
Horizontal writing
Horizontal writing

Type-4:

Vertical writing

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailandnote-1:
rem-1:
rem-2:

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

From left to right, and from top to bottom
From right to left, and from top to bottom
Bi-directional horizontal (script dependent direction) and from top to bottom.
Writing direction for a script may be country dependent even if it is a same
scriptFrom top to bottom, and right to left

1, 4
note-11 (English and Chinese), 4 (Chinese)
1
1, 2
1 (Indonesian), 2(Arabic)
1, 4
2 for special application
1, 4
1(Malay, Chinese), 4(Chinese), 2(Jawi)
1
1(Chinese, English, Malay), 2(Jawi)
1Type-4 is used generally in layout-key of some newspaper and the Chinese ancient books
Type-2 is traditional horizontal writing direction for Chinese
Conventional technology to support Type-4 is “Rotate font in 90 degree CCW in Type-1”.
The practice will not work for future, and even current, requirement for better quality print out.

2.11

Character size and Spacing

There are two basic elements for character layout for text.

One is character size and the other is line spacing.

rem-1: Spacing between characters is not as significant as line spacing or character size.

2.11.1

Character size

(CHARACTER SIZE)

There are three measurement systems available for font size.
Didot point (European size) (D)Pica point (English-American type) (P)
Local Size (ex. 号 in Japan) (L)Also, in some countries, there are popular range of character size. 9-12 Pica points are usually considered as
normal sizes because of their popularity (in US). A review was done to see if there are any specific preferences
other than 9-12.
Measurement system
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

P, L
P
P
D
P, L
P, L

Popular sizenote-1

DP
P

note-1:Chinese unit: Size 1 号=44K,

rem-1:

10 Pica point = 9.35 Didot point = 3.514 mm = 0,1383 inch
10 Didot point = 10.699 Pica point = 3,759 mm = 0.1480 inch
See annex E for point size conversion
Related standard: JIS Z 8305, KS A 0201
IEC “Guidance for Conveners of Working Group and Project Leaders” specifies Helvetica 8,10 and
12 points for IEC standards. (but, ISO/IEC directives part-3 not specifis any)
Clause hedders: Helvetica Bold 10/12 point, Sub-clause hedders: Helvetica 12/10 point, Normal
paragraphs: Helvetica 10/12 point, Note and footnote: Helvetica 8/10 point.

rem-2:
rem-3:
rem-4:

2 号=32K,

no specific requirementno specific requirementno specific requirementno specific requirementno specific requirementno specific requirementno specific requirementno specific requirement
12 point
no specific requirement

4 号=18K, 5 号=15K

2.11.2

Line spacing(CHARACTER SIZE)

Requirements for line spacing depends on the writing system. Usually, there are no special requirements otherthan using the US origin standard spacing. But some script(s), such as Thai, needs special consideration online spacing.
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailandrem-1:

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

Related standard: ISO 4882

no special requirementno special requirementno special requirementno special requirementno special requirementno special requirementno special requirementno special requirementno special requirement
Line spacing of Thai documents need to be larger than other scripts.
Usually, it is 1.5 lines or double spaced. Single-space is not so
popular because a Thai line is being used by four horizontal levelsof characters.

2.12

Preferred Font Style

There are many styles of fonts available in the market. The following information is usually neededby font providers.
.
a Requirements for richness of typeface (How many typefaces are needed?)b Preferred style may differ from country to country even for same script (Name it, if any)c Names of typical and popular typefaces and/or family of typefaces
d Typeface design matching between local character and Latin character.
rem-1:

Related standard: ISO/IEC 9541-1/2

2.12.1

Number of

typefaces(FONT)China

CNA

Latin script
Local script

> 30
>7

Hong Kong

HKG

Latin script
Local script

variety as many as possible
>3

India

IND

Latin script
Local script

> 100
> 50

Indonesia

INA

Latin script
Local script

variety as many as possible
>6

Japan

JPN

Latin script
Local script>> 50
almost all styles used in US are needed.
note-x matched design is needed with Local script
when used in mixed way. (see 12-3)>> 50
Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana

Korea

KOR

Latin script
Local script> 50
almost all styles used in US are needed.
about 10 are frequently used

MalaysiaMAS

Latin script
Local script

>100
>50

Philippines

PHI

Latin script
Local script

> 150
1

Singapore

SIN

Latin script
Local script

variety as many as possible
20-50

Thailand

THI

Latin script
Local script

variety as many as possible> 100

2.12.2

Typical/Popular typefaces

China

CNA

(FONT)

Latin script

Times New Roman

Local script

Song （ 宋 ）、Fang Song （Kai（ 楷 ）, Hei (）、) stylesHong Kong

HKG

Latin script
Local script

Times New Roman (for computer output)
Ming （ 明體 ）、Sung （ 宋體 ）

India

IND

Latin script
Local script

Both SERIF and SANS-SERIF are used
No special preference

Indonesia

INA

Latin script
Local script

Same as US
No special preference

Japan

JPN

Latin script
Local script

Same as US
Mincho ( 明朝 )、Gothic

Latin script

Same as US

Local script

Myongjo (

Korea

KOR

)，

note-1

GothicMalaysiaMAS

Latin script
Local script

Times, Helvetica
NASKH

Philippines

PHI

Latin script
Local script

Roman (New Times Roman)
No special preference

Singapore

SIN

Latin script
Local script

Times family, Helvetica
n/a

Thailand

THI

Latin script
Local script

Times New Roman, CordiaUPC and AngsanaUPC:
CordiaUPC and AngsanaUPC:
are governmental preference

note-1:
rem-1:
rem-2:Mincho and Gothic are not specific typeface name, rather those are a generic style names.
In general, one kind of serif and one kind of sans -serif are needed. Unlike Chinese Kai style is notpreferred for printing of business purpose.
Related standards are JIS Z 8903, JIS Z 8904, JIS Z 8905, KS A 0202, KS A 0203
IEC is requesting Helvetica as standard fonts for IEC standards. (see 2.11.1 rem-2)

2.12.3

Consideration on typeface design matching information(FONT)

Most local character sets have typeface requirements of both Serif (styled) and Sans-Serif(non-styled). In somecases, those local typefaces can not share Serif and Sans serif of Latin typefaces for mixed use. When thishappens, typeface for Latin script should be redesigned to match the local script because of it’s impacts on
character height and character line thickness. However, the impact of those design difference are script
dependent. (culturally different)
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN

Consideration is needed, but currently there is no unified rule yet
no consideration is needed
no consideration is needed
no consideration is needed
Following combination is popular for matchingnote-1
Latin
Serif (ex Roman)
Sans Serif (ex. Gothic)

Korea

KOR

Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

note-2:
note-3:2.12.4note-2

Following combination is popular for matching
Latin

KoreanRoman
GothicGraphic

Myongjo
GothicGraphic（）

no consideration is needed
no consideration is needed
Same as CNA
At least matched design for Serif and Sans Serif are needed.
Latin
Sans Serif (ex. Letter Gothic)
Serif (ex Roman)note-1:

Japanese
Serif (ex. Mincho)
Sans-serif (ex. Gothic)

note-3

Thai
Mono-thickness design
Multi-Thickness design

Latin character has to have shorter descender line than Western standard typefaces. Therefore,
Latin characters need to be redesigned for matching purpose for mixed use with Japanesecharacter. Western typefaces are not usable for mixed text with Japanese characters.
Thickness of line should be as similar as possible such that, total page has uniform tone as muchas possible. Mincho with thin horizontal line and variable vertical line thickness is one of solution
for this requirement.
Thai CordiaUPC and AngsanaUPC typefaces include Latin alphabet characters also, Thus thedesign matching consideration is already taken care within the typefaces.

Font attribute(FONT)

This is an extra note for technology selection. (not cultural requirement).
Due to the relatively low number of characters in the Latin like character sets, font attributes such as
UNDERLINE and SHADOW has been provided to produce different fonts. This approach is too costly in case of
CJK ideograph, because of its large number of characters. Instead, attribute such as separated symbol (ingraphic picture over written) is a more practical solution for CJK ideograph (including Hangul).

2.13

Character attribute

Normally, characters in a character set is categorized into several ways for convenience of data processing.
In case of ISO/IEC 646 (ASCII, typical categorization for a culture is done by uppercase, lowercase, digit andspace etc....). It is very natural to have cultural dependent categorization needed for both national charactersand non-national but commonly used characters (such as ISO/IEC 646)

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailandnote-1:

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

not yet available
note-1
not yet available
note-1
Defined in Indian standard IS 13194:1991
no local character is used
not yet available
note-1
not yet available
note-1
Presentation forms in Arabic characters and numbers
no local character is used
not yet available
note-1
not yet available
note-1

As of now, all non-ASCII character in JIS character sets (Japanese characters, symbol and someof common Western characters) are simply categorized as alphabetic graphic characters. However,
it is anticipated that some categorization will be introduced for those characters sooner or later.
The categorization may include two types, one is the types which are already existing (such as
space or digit), and another is new to Japanese character (such as variation of forms of Ideograph).
This new categorization may possibly be applied to other Asian cultures as well.

2.14

Paper Size

Popular (or widely used) paper sizes vary from country to country。
There are 5 kinds of paper sizes available。
Type-A:
Type-B:
Type-LT:
Type-LG:
Type-LCL:

A-size per ISO 216
B size per ISO 216
Letter size
8 inch X 11 inch
Legal size (LG)
8 inch X 14 inch
Local unique or Local traditional size(s)popular measure
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailandnote-1:note-2:
rem-1:
rem-2:
rem-3:
rem-4:

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

popular size

A, B, LCL(mo)A4, B5 and 16 mo 260mm X 185 mm(LCL)
A, LCL(mo)A4, 16 mo
A, B, LG
A4, A5
A, B (and C, D series) A4
A, B
A4, B5note-2
A, B
A4
A, LG
A4
A, LG
A4, LG is still widely used
A
A4
A
A4

note-1China has the national standard for envelope size. In China, the post office will return non-standard
envelope to sender.
Japan has standard size for envelope, postage cost is higher for non-standard size envelope andpost card than for the standard envelopes and post cards.
Note that continuous form for IT processing (ISO 2784) is not A or B size but Letter size.
Therefore, Letter size is in use in all countries for IT purpose and in some cases it is also thedefacto standard.
For A and B size, see Annex D
Related standards: ISO 216, ISO 478, ISO 593, ISO 2784, GB 9704, IS 1064, KS A 5201,
KS G 2504, KS G 2505, KS G 2506, KS G 2509, PNS 70, PNS 222, TIS 262
Standards related to size of envelopes and post cards: ISO 269, ISO 328, ISO 6924, JIS S 5502,
JIS S 5503, KS G 2501, PNS 269, TIS 380

2.15

Page Margin

There are at least two cases for page margin requirements.
Case-1:Case-2:National or cultural requirements has the highest priority
Rather than national or cultural requirements, there are also important application-dependent
requirements (for example, Tax return form itself has firm margin requirement but the margin itself
does not necessary to follow any standards)
Case-3: Reasonable amount of margin is needed, but any user defined requirements are available
Case-extra: Absolutely don’t careCommon margins
China

CNA

Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan

HKG
IND
INA
JPN

Korea
Malaysia
Philippines

KOR
MAS
PHI

Singapore
ThailandSIN
THI

Foreign Trade document
ISO 6422
Local administration document
GB 9704
Case-3no specific requirementno specific requirement
Many private guidelines available, no unified requirement.
Page layout without margin is not popular
1 inch top/bottom/light/left in most of cases
Same as THI
Top margin= 1 inch,
Bottom margin = approx. 1 inch
Left margin= 1 1/2 inch (preferably = allowance for binding purposes)
Right margin = 1 inch
Same as THI
Top/Bottom/Left/Right margin is approximated at 1 inch

ISO 6422
Top margin: 10 plus minus 0.5 mm
Left margin 20 plus minus 0.5 mm
GB 9704 (CNA)
Top margin
30 mm
Bottom margin
20 mm
Left margin
25 mm
Right margin
20 mm
rem-1:
rem-2:

Related standards: ISO 838, ISO 3535, ISO 6422, ISO 8439, GB 9704, IS 6298, JIS S 5505,
JIS S 5507, JIS S 6041, PNS 235
For a documents for international use need to fit for both A4 and Letter size paper when copied.
IEC: “Gudance for Conveners of Working Groups and Project Leader” recommends:
Top/Bottom margin = 30 mm (1.18 in), Left inner margin = 23.1mm (0.91 in) and Right outer margin= 28.9mm (1.14 in) for A4 size paper. (ISO/IEC directives part-3 has no requirements).

2.16

Page Layout

There is a possibility that cultural dependent printed page layout can be used for IT purpose. One of them islocation of page number within a sheet which is not a strong requirement, but natural common location withineach countries and cultures.

2.16.1Page Layout(PAGE LAYOUT)In most cases, there are no cultural/country specific page layout requirements. However, there exists somespecial page layout that are widely used. Fukurotoji (Layout for center folded double sided) of Japan for Legaldocument is typical example of Special page layout requirement.
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Fukurotoji is requested for most of legal documents.
n/a(In traditional publishing, Fukurotoji is used)
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

Fukurotoji:Single sided, dual columns (in case of vertical writing, wide line spacing at middle of paper) and(normally) landscape layout. Folding the printed form at center ( becomes single column or normal
vertical pages) makes it as double sided document. Staple at cut-end side and apply shared seal
with other sheet. This process guarantees “no-missing pages” and “not-changed”.

2.16.2

Page number location(PAGE LAYOUT)

Location of page number in a page does not really conform to any cultural convention but it is more of a country
dependent format.
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

Bottom or Top outside
but may be any possible place
Center bottom
but may be any other position
no preference
no preference
Bottom or Top out side
but may be any possible place
Center bottom
Top or Bottom center
Top right or Bottom center
Top right or Bottom center“Top or bottom, and center or right side” is preferred2.17

Business letter format/layout

Business letter format is separated into:
a. Main letter copyb. Envelope
Availability table of key elements of business letter (main letter) for each country
Letter element

CNA HKG IND INA JPN KOR MAS PHI SIN THI-E THIT
○
○
○
○ ○
○
○
○ ○ ○
○
○
○
○
○ ○
○
○
○ ○ ○
○
○
○
○
○ ○
○
○ ○ ○
△
○
○
○ ○
○
○ ○ ○
○
○
○
○ ○
○
○
○ ○ ○
○
○
△
○
○ ○ ○
○
○
○
○ ○
○
○ ○ ○
○
△
○
○
○ ○
○
○
○ ○
○
○
○
○ ○
○
○
○ ○ ○
○
○
○*
○
○ △
○
○
△ ○
○
○
○
△
○ ○
○
○
○
○
△
○
○
○ ○
○ ○ ○
○
○
○
○
○ ○
○
○
○ ○ ○
○
△
△
○
○
△
○
○
○
○ ○
○
○
○
○
△
△
○
○ ○
○
△ ○ ○
○
○
○
○
○ ○
○
○
○ ○ ○
○
△
△
△ ○
○ △
△
△
△
○
△ ○
○
○
△ ○ △
△

1
Document Identifier2
Date3
Addressee’s name4
Addressee’s title, department
5
Address’s company name6
Addressee’s address, Tel., Fax.
7
Sender’s name8
Sender’s title, department
9
Sender’s company name10
Sender’s address, Tel., Fax.
11
Document title
12
Salutation
13
Main body
14
Itemized note
15
Ending salutation
16
Attachment list
17
Signature (or Stamp or Seal)
18
P.S.
19
CC or BCC
* If the letter does not have letter head
○ is YES,
rem-1:△ is OPTIONAL
Blank is “not commonly used”
rem-2:
THI-E is Thai style in English, THI-E is Thai style in Thai language
Location of Key elements of business letter for each countries

CNA

Front
1, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12

13, 14

HKG-E
HKG-CV
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI-E
THI-T

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12
1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10,11,12
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11
1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12
1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16

11, 13
11, 1312, 13
13
10, 12, 13, 14, 15
13, 14
11, 13
11, 12, 13, 14
13
13
13

rem-3:
rem-4:

Body

Ending2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18,19
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 19
7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
16, 17, 18, 19
8, 9, 16, 17, 19
7, 8, 15, 17, 19
7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 11, 19
15, 16, 17, 18, 19
7, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
7, 15, 17, 18, 19

Sequence of item numbers does not have any significant meaning.
CV is Chinese vertical

2.17.1

Main letter copy

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

rem-1: Related standards: ISO 6422

(BUSINESS LETTER)

CNA styles
HKG styles
IND style
INA style
JPN style
KOR style
HKG style in English
PHI style
SIN style
THI 1, 2 styleCNA style in English

CNA style in Chinese

HKG style in Chinese(Horizontal)

HKG style in Chinese (Vertical)

rem-1:
rem-2:

Writing in column from right to left, top to bottom
Numbers correspond to “Availability table of key business letter (main letter) elements”

HKG style in English

HKG style in American

IND style

INA styleJPN style (for both Vertical and Horizontal)

KOR stylePHI stylerem-1:

SIN styleFor simplified case indentation at the beginning of text can be removed.
For more simplification, indention of ending salutation and name of sender also be removed.

THI -1 style in English

THI -2 style in THI

2.17.2

Envelope

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand(BUSINESS LETTER)

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

CNA style in English:

CNA stylein English: PHI style,
IND style
JPN2 style
JPN1,2 style
JPN1,2 style
PHI style
PHI style
JPN2 style
PHI style

In Chinese: JPN1 and JPN2 style.

Same as US in local address format

CNA style in Chinese

IND stylerem-1:The name and address of sender’s company may be either at top left or bottom left cornerJPN -1 style (Dual sided)

Both Vertical and Horizontal form available(Front)(Back)

JPN-2 style (Single sided)

PHI style (Single sided)

Horizontal form

Horizontal form

2.18

Personal letter format/layout

Format and layout requirements on personal letter is separated into:
Preference on main letter copy and Preferred envelope layout

2.18.1Main letter copy

China
Hong Kong

CNA
HKG

India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

note-1:

CNA style(PERSONAL LETTER)

CNA styleSame as business letterbut 1,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,14,16,18 and 19 are optional(Numbers correspond to Availability table of key business letter elements)
IND style
INA style
JPN style
KOR style
INA style
PHI stylenote-1
THI style

Personal official letter is the same as business letter in 2.17.1
Personal friendly letter has no format

IND style

INA style

JPN style (Vertical format, horizontal is similar)

KOR

style

PHI style

THI style in Thai language

2.18.2

Envelope

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

CNA style in Chinese

IND style

INA style (Dual sided) (Front)(Rear)(PERSONAL LETTER)

CNA style
In English: same as business envelope,
IND style
INA style
KOR 1,2 style
KOR 1,2 style
PHI style
PHI style
PHI style
PHI style

In Chinese: KOR1,2 styleKOR -1 style (Dual sided)(Front)Both Vertical and Horizontal form available(Rear)KOR-2

PHI

style (Single sided)style (Single sided)

Horizontal form

Horizontal form

2.19

Postal Address format

The format of postal address used in this region is usually of two types.
Type-1:
Type-2:

Bottom up style
Top down style

starting with house number and ends with Country name (US style)starting with Country and ends with house number (Chinese style)

It is noticed that there is a variation within each same type. The difference is a location of Zip code, It is also
noticed that when Roman Alphabet is used to write an address, Type-1 is used. When Chinese Ideograph isused, in the same country, Type-2 is used.
Therefore, the style is somewhat script dependent.

Type
China

FormatExampleCNA

2

Zip code, Province
220045
河南省西京市中山路 20 號
Town or county, No.street
陳大文 先生 収
House number
Name of recipient
北京市文化局
Organization name and address of sender
北京市西長安街 4 號
Zip code of sender
100005Hong KongHKG

1

Title, Name of recipient(Company name if needed)
Flat, Floor, Block, Building
Street no., Street nameDistrict Town, Province, StateCountry

Mr. Chan Tai Man
Flat E, 23/F,
Bayview Mansion,
100 Water street,
Central District
Hong Kong2

same as CNA

香港 中環水街一百號
湾景廣場第四座
二十三楼Ｅ室陳大文先生

But, no ZIP code in HKG

India

IND

1

Name of recepient
Designation of recipient
Company nameStreet no., Street name
City/Town/State- PINCountry

Laxman Swarup
Deputy Director (Electronics)
Bureau of Indian Standards
9, Bahadurshah Zafar MargNew Delhi - 110002
IndiaIndonesia INA

Japan

Korea

JPN

KOR

1

Title (if any), Name of recipient
Street-name, House number
City-name ZIP code
Province-name
Country (Indonesia)

Bapak Sudarasian Masdar
J1, Gunung Mas
No. F38
Bandung 40142
Jawa Baratt
Indonesia

Title (if any), Name of recipient
RT rt-number (nabourhood no.)RW rw_number (kampung no.)Kampung-name (optional)
Kelurahan/Desa-nameKecamatan-name
City/Kabupaten-nameZIP
Propinsii-name
Country (Indonesia)

Bapak Sudarsian Masdar
RT 06
RW 06

2

same as CNA

123 長野県むつ市富士見町
５丁目３号９１番
山田 太郎

1same as HKG type 1
with ZIP code at the end

Mr. Taro Yamada
5-3-91, Fujimicho,
Mutsu, Nagano
123
Japan

2*

City, Section, Village,
House number(Building, Company name)Name of recipient
Zip code* Note:Malaysia MAS

1*

PHI

1

150-010

Zip code is placed at the end of address
to improve readability in posting.

Name of recipientHouse no., Street name
Housing Project name
Zip Code,+ capitalized town
State,Country* Note:Philippines

Kelurahan Ciumbuleuit
Kecamatan Cidadap
Bandung
40142
Jawa Barat
Indonesia(CNA is at the beginning)

Muhammad Mun’im Ahmad Zabidi
19, Jaran Bukit Kempas 3/3
Taman Bukit Kempus
81200 JOHOR BAHRU
Johor Darul Takzim
Malaysia

Zip code is in between the street name and the town nameName of recipient(destination or position
company name)House or Bldg. no. street nameDistrict, Town, ProvinceCity, Zip
Countries

Ms. Irene Robles-Nolasco
Information Systems Analyst
Directorate for IT Plans and Policies
National Computer Center
C.P. Garcia Avenue, U.P.Campus,
Diliman, Quezon City 9999
PHILIPPINESSingapore SIN

1Name of recipient
Bldg/House number,Street name,(Unit/org.)
City
Zip code(comma is optional)(or)Name of recipient
Blk#, unit#
Streeet nameCountry
Zip code

Singapore
Thailand THIName of recipientHouse no., Village
District town, Province, Zip code
Country
Name of recipientHouse no., Street Name, Street no.,Section, Province,
Country

Mr. Tan Ah Choo
71 Science Park drive#04-01
Singapore
1234
Mr. John Lee
Blk 12, #04-38
Ang Mo Kio

1234
1

Mr. Tan Ah Choo
#10, Mt. Smai lane,
Singapore1234

Zip code2.20

Telephone Number Format

2.20.1

FormatFormat to print and speak telephone numbers are different from country to country. However, since thedifference does not have any significance for the IT process, this report simply describe the differences.
China

CNA

Typical telephone number format:
99-10-1234-5678(99 is space for 2 digits country code)<country code> - <area code in 2-4 digit> - <number 1-4digits - 4 digits>
Domestic: <area code 0+2-4 digit> - <number 1- 4 digits - 4 digits>

Hong Kong

HKG

999 - 1234-5678(999 is for 3 digits country code 852)
<country code> - <number 4 digits - 4 digits>
Domestic: <number 4 digits - 4 digits>
Separator is either “DASH” or “SPACE”

India

IND

99 12-34567<country code>- <area code M-digits> - <number N digits>
Domestic: <area code 0 + M digits> - <number N digits>

Indonesia

INA

99 012-3456789<country code> - <area code 2 or 3 digits> - <number 4-7 digits>
Domestic: <area code 0 + 2 or 3 digits> - <number 4-7 digits>

Japan

JPN

99 (123) 45-6789<country code><area code (1-4 digits)> <number 1-4 digits - 4 digits>
Domestic: <area code (0 + 1-4 digits)> <number 1-4 digits - 4 digits>

Korea

KOR

99 -1-234-5678<country code> <area code (1-3 digits)> <number 1-4 digits - 4 digits>
Domestic: <area code 0 + 1-3 digits> - <number 1-4 digits - 4 digits>

MalaysiaMAS

99 -01-2345678<country code>- <area code 1 or 2 digits> - <number 6-7 digits>
Domestic: <area code 0 + 1 or 2 digits> - <number 6-7 digits>
Rem: Area code 02 for domestic is for call for Singapore

Philippines

PHI

99 -1-234-56-78<country code>- <area code N digits> - <number 4-7 digits>
Domestic: <area code 0 + N digits> - <number 4-7 digits>

SingaporeSIN

99-01-2345678<country code> - <area code 1 digit> - <number 7 digits>
Domestic: <area code 0 + 1 digit> - <number 7 digits>
Rem: Area code 01 for domestic is for call for Malaysia

ThailandTHI

99-12 -345 -6789<country code>- <area code 1 digits> - <number 3-4 digits> in Bangkok<country code>- <area code 2 digits> - <number 3-3 digits> in other provinces
Domestic: <area code 0+1 digits> - <number 3-4 digits> in Bangkok<area code 0+2 digits> - <number 3-3 digits> in other provinces

rem-1:
rem-2:
rem-3:For some countries, carrier code for alternative carrier to be added (mostly in front of area code).
CCITT E.123 recommends a format for telephone number.
Related standards: CCITT E.123:1988, CCITT E.163:1988.

2.20.2

Country code

(TELEPHONE NUMBER)

Following are the country codes of the countries
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

86
852
91
62
81
82
60
63
65
66

2.21

Measurement Systems

Almost all countries/culture have their own traditional measurement system. On the other hand, SI/metricsystem is used internationally as the measurement system. There is degree of difference among usage of
traditional system for business and daily life. For example, Japan is in metric system though there is a
traditional system. The need for the traditional system is very low for IT application. In US, the feet-poundsystem is still used very commonly for daily life even though the metric system is adopted by law long time ago.
Data in this section describes the common measurement systems for IT use.

China
Hong Kong

CNA
HKG

India

IND

Indonesia

INA

Japan

JPN

Korea

KOR

Malaysia

MAS

Philippines

PHI

Singapore

SIN

ThailandTHI

metric SI SI is adopted for legal system
metric SI Traditional Chinese units (e.g. 斤) are still used in placeof traditional business such as markets, Chinese herb
store. British units (feet, inch, pound, ounce etc.) are stillused in some areas such as property management.
metric SI, CGS
There are many traditional measuring unit(s)for today’s daily use in India. However, the traditional
units are not used in IT application.
Example of traditional measurements are:Feet-Pound-System, and real traditional units like Man,
Ser, Tola, Masa or Ratti (now rarely used).
metric SI British system is used in parallel with metric.
Traditional measurements, especially on recording grain
harvest, are still prevalent in the rural areas.
metric SI, CGS Traditional measurement system is not necessary
for most of IT application.
metric SI Traditional units such as Ri, Kun, Mal and Pyong areused in parallel.
note-1
metric SI Traditional business such as Chinese herb or jewelry
shop are still using their own units.
Measuring of housing is done in feet.
metric SI British system is used in parallel with metric.
Traditional measurements are still used for daily life,
especially on recording grain harvest, are still prevalent in
the rural areas.
metric SI British and Local traditional units are still widely used.
(such as feet, inch or 斤）
Traditional Chinese units are used in Chinese herb stores,
pawn shops and other places of traditional business.
Both metric and feet-pound for general note-2

note-1: KOR

note-2:

THI

Length1(36FD)= 3927 m(Ri)

Weight1(3496)= 0.6 Kg

(Kun)

Volume1(370A)= 55 cubic meter

Area

1

(3C65)= 0.3025 sq. meter

Land

1

Land

1

Land

1

(Mal)
(Pyong)(0031, 0E44, 0E23, 0E48)= 1,600 sq.m.

(0031, 0E07, 0E32, 0E19)= 400 sq.m.
(0031, 0E15, 0E32, 0E23,

0E32, 0E07, 0E27,

0E32)= 4 sq.m.

Clothing dimension 1(0031, 0E2B, 0E25, 0E32) = 1 yard

General meas.

1(0031, 0E19, 0E34, 0E49, 0E27) = 1 inch

General meas.

1(0031, 0E40, 0E0B, 0E19, 0E15, 0E34, 0E40,
0E21, 0E15, 0E23) = 1 centimeter

General meas.

(0031, 0E01, 0E34, 0E42, 0E25, 0E01, 0E23,

1

0E31, 0E21)
General meas.

= 1 kilogram(0031, 0E1B, 0E2D, 0E19, 0E14, 0E4C)

1= 1 poundrem-1:

Related standard: ISO 31-0/13, ISO 1000, ISO 2995, IS 1890, IS 10005, IS 11366, JIS X 0124,
JIS Z 8202, JIS Z 8203, KS A 0105, KS C 5631, KS C 5676, MS 1134

2.21.1 Temperature measurement unit
(MEASUREMENT)
Common unit of measure for temperature are:
Type -C: in CentigradeType -F: in Fahrenheit
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C

2.22

Legal

and regulatory requirements

Note-1: There are many legal and regulatory requirements available in each country.
In this booklet, for practical purpose, Legal and Regulatory refer to those requirements which limit the use of(US is used as bench mark) imported IT products within the country (for example, need to meet local safety
regulations, unique to local tele-communication protocol, etc.,)

China

CNA

It have been prepared many of national standards for IT that refer to computer
hardware, external devices, tele-communication protocol, etc.. Imported toChina IT products relate to the processing of Chinese characters, those
products must conforming with one of the key Chinese character set
standards.

Hong Kong

HKG

Mainly follows British Standards

India

IND

Indian Standards (including adapted international standards) is required forgovernmental procurements in general, but optional.

Indonesia

INA

Indonesia at present does not have strict legal/regulatory requirements for IT
application and products.

Japan

JPN

Japan is in process of “Harmonization with international regulatory
requirements. Thus, from now on, most of new regulatory requirements will
not be unique to Japan. “Meeting with internationally agreed requirements”
will be a requirement. (Reduce non-tariff trade barrier is a key word).
Other than that: Power line 100V AC 50/60 Hz.
Government (MITI or MPT) certification is needed for some equipment.
MITI: for safety for small home use equipment
MPT: for tele-communication adaptation

Korea

KOR

Korea has some regulatory requirements in trading. but, no significant
regulatory/legal requirements in IT application/products.

Malaysia

MAS

Government computer must be in Open System (per international standard)

Philippines

PHI

The Philippines at present does not have strict legal/regulatory requirements
for IT application and products.

Singapore

SIN

There are safety/health and/or environment (such as RFI) related regulations
for hardware. Requirements for software are going to be defined in near
future.

ThailandTHI

All documents are to be in Thai.
Arabic digits are used most of the time in business documents.
Thai digits are always used in government documents and royal gazette.

rem-1:

Related standard: ISO 9241

2.23

Message and Dialogue

There are two considerations used for message and dialog (in IT application). One is a language(s) being
used in country and another is acceptance of English within IT application. It is often desirable to have local
language capability in everything, but in reality, the number of languages to be supported may have a limitation.
Due to the history of IT, acceptance of English for limited IT application is reasonably high.

2.23.1 Languages of country
Official
language
China

CNA

ChineseHong Kong

HKG

India

IND

EnglishChineseHindi
EnglishIndonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia

INA
JPN
KOR
MAS

Philippines

PHI

Singapore

SIN

Thailand

THI

Indonesian
Japanese
KoreanMalay
EnglishFilipino
EnglishEnglishChinese
Malay
Tamil
Thai
English(MESSAGE AND DIALOG)

Comments
Some minority’s languages can be used as second
official language for some national autonomous regions
Supplemental languages are: Tamil, Assamese, Bengali,
Gujrati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya,
Punjabi, Sanskrit, Telegu and Urdu.
Many local dialect/many local language
Supplemental languages are: Chinese, Tamil
Many local dialects are available. (Tagalog, Ilocano,Bulakeno, Panggalato, Bisaya, Zambali, Ilonggo,
Chabakano, Pampangeno and other minority dialects)

2.23.2

Acceptance of English in IT application

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand2.23.3

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

(MESSAGE AND DIALOG)

Widely accepted, (with Chinese becoming of same importance)
Widely accepted, (with Chinese becoming of same importance)
Accepted now, but moving toward to Indian language
Accepted as computer prompts to be used by IT specialist
Accepted as computer prompts to be used by IT specialist
Accepted as computer prompts to be used by IT specialist
Accepted now, but moving toward to Malay language
Accepted as computer prompts to be used by IT specialist
Accepted as computer prompts to be used by IT specialist
Accepted as computer prompts to be used by IT specialist

YES and NO(MESSAGE AND DIALOG)

Use of YES and NO is confusing (from native speaker of English view) in some culture.
For example, for the question: You did not have lunch. didn’t you?
Answer is XXXX, I did not have lunch.
Type-1
Type-2XXXX = NO
XXXX = YES(This is normal English. YES/NO is depending on following sentence)(This is for some case, YES/NO is depending on the fact of TRUE/NOT TRUE)

As a matter of fact, most of Orientals make this mistake (from English view). This fact implies the guidance fordesign of prompt of system and application. “Do not use negative question”
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand2.23.4

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

2 for ordinary persons
2 for ordinary persons,
1
2 for ordinary persons
2 for ordinary persons
2 for ordinary persons
2 for ordinary persons
2 for ordinary persons
1, 2 accepted
2 for ordinary persons

1 for IT specialists

Character Set

Though ISO/IEC 10646 is intended to include every necessary characters in it, there are still national (and/or
defact) standard(s) of coded character set of the country. For those character sets, see annex A of this data
book.

2.24

Person’s name (mode of address)

The following questions need to be answered about cultural dependency of personal name.
Starting point:
Most of US origin software assume that world standard (and most basic) form of persons name is formed byfamily name and first name, and sequence is first name then family name. Adding middle name is next up-grade
for the basic assumption.
Questions about format of name:
Question-a: Is sequence right ?
Most of Asian naming are family name first or in other sequence.
Question-b: What else is needed for formal name?
Such as middle name.
And where?
Question-c: When Latin character is used, how do we describe local name?
Question-d: Where is a location of personal title?
d-1,
In local formd-2,
In Latin (transformed form)
Question-e: Is saluting needed for name?
If yes, at which location?
Question-f: When saluted name is needed, is that for absolute position or relative position?
Other questions:Short form:
Indexing:
Women’s name:What is the preferred method when short name is needed?
When indexing of name is needed (such as phone book), what are the preferred key(s)Is it changed when married?

2.24.1

Basic format of name (Question -a, -b)

Type-1
Type-2Type-3First name (1st), then Family name (Fml)
Family name (Fml), then First name (1st)Other unique to the culture format(PERSON’S NAME)

Type

Note
No custom of middle (or any such) name
Christian name before family name (if available)*extended type-1 note-1**extended type-1 note-2
No custom of middle (or any such) name
No custom of middle (or any such) name

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI

2
2
1*
1**
2
2

Singapore

SIN

1

ThailandTHI

1note-31

1st Middle(or middle initial) Family affix, middle nameand affix such as Jr.
for Chinese:① Christian name (if any), ② Family name, then ③
usually two words Chinese name.
for Malays: see note-3
for Indians: see note-1
No custom of middle (or any such) name

note-1:

note-2:

note-3:- Basic structue of persons name in India is in sequence of First name (person’s own name) andthen Family name.
- Normally, Village name located before First name. Therefore, it seems as if First name cometothe place of middle name- Occasionally, the First name consists of two part, Father’s/God’s name then person’s own name-Basically, name in Indonesia consist of First name then Family name.
- First name can be combination of any number of names (at least one).
- Most of people do not have Family name (Thus single name at minimum possible)
Moslems name is same as MAS
Structure of persons name in Malaysia:<person’s name> <bin/binti> <father’s name>bin: son of
binti: daughter of
Other than official record, “bin” and “binti” are commonly dropped when the gender can be deductedwithout ambiguity.

2.24.2

Transformation method in Latin character (Question-c)

China

CNA

Hong KongHKG

India
IND
Indonesia INA
Japan
JPN
Korea

KOR

Malaysia MAS
PhilippinesPHI
Singapore SIN
Thailand THI

rem-1:(PERSON’S NAME)

Transliteration is done per local character. The first letter of both family and first name aren capital letter. No hyphenation is needed
Translation per local character. Family name starts with capital or all alphabets are incapital. Family name may be underlined. Capital letter is used at the beginning of every
other names. If names are joined by hyphen(s), capital letter is only used at the beginningof the joined names.
First and family name start with Capital, no hyphen or comma.
Capitalize the first character of all names.
Both family and first name are translated one each of single word, therefore, capital letter
is used at the beginning of both family and first name.
No hyphenation is needed.
Each syllable starts with capital letter.
To clarify family name from first name, 3 different methods are used frequently.
Case 1: Use hyphen between first name syllables. ex. Man-Han Hwang
Case 2: Write family name first, place a comma after it, and write first name.
ex. Hwang, man Han
Case 3:
Write first name first and family name last. Do not use either ahyhen nor a comma. ex. Man Han Hwang
No transformation necessary
No transformation necessary
No transformation necessary
Both family and first name are translated per each local character. Capital letter is used at
the beginning of both name

Related standards:

ISO 233,

ISO 3602, ISO 7098

2.24.3

Short form of name

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI

Singapore
Thailand

SIN
THI

note-1:

Family name is preferred, Do not shorten (Fmily. or 1st) name
Family or nickname in local, Christian name in Latin
1st and 2nd name can be changed to Single capital letter
Only for the person with close relation
Same as CNA,
no standard nickname like Bill for William
Same as CNA
note-1
Using initial to make short form is common practice.
Nickname is also used occasionally.
no standard method
Nickname can be used sometimes for informal occasion.
There is no standard for setting a nickname

Person’s name shortening custom in Malaysia
Given name is used as short form, contrary to Western style of using surname.
Example (Male):En. Muhammad Nun’im bin Ahmad Zabidi becoms En. Muhammad Mun’im
Example (Female):Pn. Haliza binti Ibrahim becomes Pn. Haliza
Some common names can be abbreviated regardless of its location (given name or surname)
Full
Muhammad
Ahmad
Abdul

2.24.4(PERSON’S NAME)

Shortened
Mohd.
A.
Abd.

Alternatives
Muhd., Md., M.

Indexing of name
(PERSON’S NAME)

China

CNA

Hong Kong

HKG

India
Indonesia

IND
INA

Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

note-1:

Family name, then first name in pronunciation, then per standard
local character (Ideograph) order (radical, stroke).
By family name under number of strokes, then per local character
order (stroke). The family name can also be treated by Cantoneseor Mandarin pronunciation.
Start with family name. in character orderStart with family name, then 1st first name followed by other firstnames in sequence.
Same as CNA.
Same as CNA..
note-1First name first, then family name.
Family name then 1st in alphabetic order.
Family name then 1st in alphabetic order.
By first mane in THI alphabetical order.

dictionary order in Korea is per pronunciation even if it is ideograph.

2.24.5

Women’s name when married(PERSON’S

NAME)
China
Hong Kong

CNA
HKG

India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines

IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI

Singapore

SIN

ThailandTHI

Not changed when married
Not changed when married
Optional for adding husband family name in front
Change family name to husband
Can be either her husband’s or her father’s
Change family name to husband (most of case)
Not changed when married
Not changed when married
ChangeOption-1: use maiden name as middle initial and use husband’sfamily name
Option-2: Affix husband name to maiden name with hyphen
Change is a personal preference or use both family names byconnecting with hyphen.
Change family name to husband

2.24.6

Location of personal title and salutation (Question -d, -e,-f)

Location
Location
Saluting
Saluting

Type-1
Type-2Type-A
Type-R

Front of personal name
End of personal name
Absolute salutation(such as Mr.)
Reflect relative relation between people(Wording is depending on relative position of each other)
Local form

China

Latin form

Salutation

CNA

2*

1

mostly R

Hong KongHKG

2**1

mostly R

India
IND
Indonesia INA

1

Japan
JPN
Korea
KOR
Malaysia MAS
PhilippinesPHI
Singapore SIN
Thailand THI(PERSON’S NAME)* end of family namebut not between fml and 1st**use family name ofhusband for married woman.

1A
1R***same as English (for ex. Dr. is front and Ph.D. is at the end)2
1
mostly R
note-1
2
1
R
1
1
A note-2
1
1
A
1
1
A
1
1
A note-3

note-1:
note-2:

when both title and saluting are needed, Occupational title comes before personal name andsaluting is following personal nameFormat of titles for Malaysia:
Titles are prefixed when a person receives honorary medals from one of the monarchs, regardless
citizenship.
Prefix for medal holder
Dato’
Dato’ Seri
Tun
Tan SeriPrefix for medal holder’s wife
Datin
Datin Seri
Toh
Puan Seri

The husband of a female medal recipient does not get any special title, however.
When addressing a head of community, the phrase Yang Berhormat (meaning “the honorable”) is
prefixed. A judge is prefixed with Yang Arif (meaning “the wise”).
The King of country rotated among the ten state monarchies every five years. The king is given theprefix Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. The first four words areusually abbreviated DYMM. The sultan of a state is given the prefix Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan

state where state is the sultan’s state of residence.
note-3:

There is official addressing modes for special catalogue of people. (Monk/priest, royalties, membersof the royal family, and their majesties the King and Queen of Thailand)2.24.7

Title or Saluting in local language and character
Generic word

China

CNA

Hong KongHKG

India

君(541B)IND(PERSON’S NAME)

Mr.

Mrs.

先生(5148, 751F)

小姐(0C5F, 59D4)
夫人(592B, 4EBA)女士(5973, 58EB)
太太(592A, 592A)
小姐(0C5F, 59D4)
夫人(592B, 4EBA)女士(5973, 58EB)
太太(592A, 592A)

先生(5148, 751F)

Miss(0936, 094D, 0930, 0940, 092E, 093E)(0936, 094D, 0930, 0940)

Korea
Malaysia MAS
PhilippinesPHI
Singapore SIN
Thailand THI

Khun (generic wordn/aCik
Senora/Ginang
Mrs.

n/a
n/a
note-2Senorita/BinibiniMiss
Ms note-3

0E04, 0E38, 0E13),

Mr. (0E19, 0E32, 0E22),

Mrs.(

0E19, 0E32, 0E07)

Miss (

note-1:note-2
note-3:n/a(0936, 094D, 0930, 0940, 092E, 0924, 0940)(0915, 0941, 092E, 093E,
0930, 0940)
Shrimati
Kumarin/aNyNn*,**,*** note-1
さん、様
さん、様
さん、様
様、殿
夫人
氏(6C0F)

Shrimaan
Shri
Sdr,* Ibu,** Bapak***さん(3055, 3093)さん、様(6A23)、殿(6BBF)君
氏
KOR(3941)
n/a
Tuan/Puan Encik
Puann/a
Senor/Ginoon/aMr.

Indonesia INA
Japan
JPN

Ms

0E19, 0E32, 0E07, 0E2A, 0E32, 0E27),

Sdr for equal level as speaker, Ibu(Woman) and Bapak(man) for higher to the speakerseveral example of other titles in Malay may be added here
Ms is getting popular instead of Mrs. and Miss

2.25

Colour usage and significanceIt is a well known fact that almost all cultures have specific significance for some colours. In addition, there area couple of things that have to be considered when describing the usage of colour in a culture.
a.
Name of colour is not one to one correspondence (even in English). For example, purple for one
culture is pink for another.
b.
Degree of significance varies. Therefore it is very difficult to describe colour significance.
In addition, there are two specific things that were noticed:c.
Colour of national flag: Some countries are very sensitive about colour (or combination of colour)of national flag.
d.
Specially defined owner of specific colour: Some country (or culture) has a symbol colour(s) for
specific matters. Sometimes significance (or sensitivity) is very high for the colour, in some case, it
is not.

2.25.1

Colour in national flag

China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

Red

(COLOUR)

very significant

Orange (Sacrifice), White (Peace), Green (Prosperity)
very significant
not significant
Red circle, White backgroundnot so significant
Colours in national flag are not significant
Yellow(King) is significant, Blue (unity), White(pure) and Red(bravery)
Red(Bravery), White(Purity), Blue(Truthfulness)significant
Red and White
significant
Red (the Thai nation), White (the Buddhist religion), Blue (The King)2.25.2

Colour for defined (and significant) meaning

China

CNA

Hong Kong
India

HKG
IND

Indonesia

INA

Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Philippines

JPN
KOR
MAS
PHI

Singapore
ThailandSIN
THI

rem-1:

Traffic lightRed(justice, truth)
Green(postal)
Magenta (regional flower in HKG)White(purity)
Orange(sacrifice)Used as symbol colour of political party
Red(nationalist/democratic)
Green(Moslem party)
Yellow(Profession party)
White(Those who do not use their vote)
There are some but very low significance
There are some but very low significanceGreen(religion/piety for Moslems)White(Purity, medical profession)
Blue(Truthfulness)
Purple (Holy week)
Red/Green--- Christmas
Green(religion for Moslem)
Red (the Thai nation),
White (the Buddhist religion),
Blue (The King)
Purple (Widow)
Yellow (Monk)

Red, Yellow and Green (Blue) are the same in every country(COLOUR)2.25.3

Colour usage or general meaning of colour

China

CNA

Hong Kong
India

HKG
IND

Indonesia I

NA

Japan

JPN

Korea

KOR

Malaysia

MAS

Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

PHI
SIN
THI

rem-1:

Red---- luck, healthy, high emotion, happy, emergency
Black-- low emotion, evil
White-- not healthy, unlucky, funeral, death
Close to CNA
Red--crime, danger (area)
Black--unauspicious, evil
White--sad affair, death, purity, Holiness
Orange---Patriotic
Green-- prosperity, safety, life
Yellow---happiness (human behavior)
Red--- happy, angry, brave
Black---sadness evil
White--Holy
Green--young
Red-----danger
Yellow-----warning
Green----young/safety
Red/White stripe-----goodness
Thick Black frame---mourning
Black/White stripe---morning
Black-----sad/death
Red-----crime/danger
Yellow----warning
Green----Safety
Black----solemn occasion, dangerous, filthy
Red----bravery, danger, happy
Amber-----warning
Yellow-----royalty/decadence
White----purity
Black----morning
Same as CNA + MAS
Black---mourning
Red, White, Blue See 2.25.2
White---Purity
Green--Good Environment

Related standards: ISO 3864, JIS Z 9101, KS A 3501, KS A 3502, PNS 3864

(COLOUR)

2.26

Taboo Items

There are many taboo items in each culture and country, some may be the same for most of cultures and someare different from culture to culture. However, as of current technology, most of them may not have any impact
on generic IT application and products. There might be some, and following are samples of those taboos.
As technology progress, however, some taboo items may have impact on IT application in future. For example,
if ICON in shape of hand need to click some sensitive shape with Thai culture, then acceptance of theapplication in Thai may be low.
The common answer for most countries is: Though there are many taboo items in the culture, as for IT productsin the past, there were no specific item(s) which were forced to be localized due to the reason of taboo.
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan

CNA
HKG
IND
INA
JPN

Korea
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand

KOR
MAS
PHI
SIN
THI

Common answer
Common answer
Common answer
Common answer
Common answer“Do not write persons name in red” is one of Japanese taboo.
Common answer and Do not write persons name in red.
Common answer
Common answer
Common answer
Do not write persons name in red.

Annex A
Coded Character Set Standard(s)A.1

International Standard

ISO/IEC 646:1991
ISO/IEC 2022:1994
ISO/IEC 4873:1991
ISO/IEC 6429:1992
ISO 6936:
ISO/IEC 6937:1994
ISO/IEC 8859 -1/10
ISO/IEC 10367:1991
ISO/IEC 10538:1991
ISO/IEC 10646 -1:1993

ISO 7-bit coded character set for information interchange
Character codes structure and extension technology
ISO 8-bit code for information interchange -structure and rules
Control functions for coded character sets
Conversion between the coded character sets of ISO 646 and ISO 6429-2 andthe CCITT international telegraph alphabet No.2 (ITA2)
Coded graphic character set for text communication
8-bit single byte coded character graphic character set(s)Standardized coded character set for use in 8-bit code
Control function for text communication
Universal multiple-octet coded character set (UCS)

A.2

National Standards

China

CNA

Hong Kong

HKG

India
Indonesia
Japan

IND
INA
JPN

GB 1988-88
GB 2311-89
GB-2312-89(ISO 646-83)(ISO 2022)
Code of Chinese ideograms set for informationinterchange - Basic set
GB-7590-87
Code of Chinese Ideograms set for informationinterchange - The 4th supplementary set
GB-8565-88
Coded character set for text communication
GB-12345-90
Code of Chinese Ideograms set for informationinterchange - Supplementary set
GB-13000-93(ISO/IEC 10646-1)
no specific to HKG standard.
HKG uses international standard(s) and/or other national standard(s) on
products for export, depending on the country of destination
IS 13194:1991
Indian script code for information interchange-ISCIIn/a( ISO/IEC 646 is usually used)
JIS X 0201 -1976
Code for Information Interchange
JIS X 0202 -1991(ISO/IEC 2022)
JIS X 0208 -1990
JIS X 0211 -1994
JIS X 0212 -1990
JIS X 0221 -1995

Korea

KOR

KS C 5528 -1976
KS C 5601 -1992
KS C 5620 -1977
KS C 5636 -1993
KS C 5657 -1991
KS C 5700 -1995

Code of the Japanese graphical character for informationinterchange(ISO/IEC 6429)
Code of the Supplemental Japanese graphic character
set for Information Interchange(ISO/IEC 10646-1)
Coding of characters for printing telegraph and theirarrangement in teleprinter keyboard
Code for information interchange(ISO 2022)
Code for information interchange (Latin character)
Extension code sets for information interchange(ISO/IEC 10646-1)

Malaysia

MAS

Philippines

PHI

Singapore
ThailandSIN
THI

MS 1368:1983
Jawi character set
MS ISO/IEC 646:1993(ISO/IEC 646)
MS ISO/IEC 2022:1993(ISO/IEC 2022)
MS ISO/IEC 4873:1993(ISO/IEC 4873)
MS ISO/IEC 6429:1993(ISO/IEC 6429)
MS ISO 6936:1993(ISO/IEC 6936)
MS ISO/IEC 6937-1:1993(ISO/IEC 6937-1)
MS ISO/IEC 6937-2:1993(ISO/IEC 6937-1)
MS ISO/IEC 10646:part1:1994 (ISO/IEC 10646-1)
ISO/IEC 10646-1
Universal Multi-Octet Coded Character Set :Part-1SS
Singapore Standard
TIS 620
Thai Character Codes for Computers (1986, 2ed 1990)
TIS 820Layout of Thai Characters on Computer Keyboards(1988)TIS 988
Recommendation for Thai Combined-Character Codesand Symbols for Line-Graphic for Dot-Matrix Printers(1990)
TIS 1074
6-bit Teletype code (1992)
TIS 1075
Conversion between computer coded and 6-bit Teletype
code (1992)

Annex B
List of standards
B.1

International Standards

CCITT E.123:1988
CCITT E.163:1988

Notation for national and international telephone numbers
Numbering plan for the international telephone services

ICS 01.080.xx

Graphic Symbols

ISO 31-0/13:1992
ISO 216:1975
ISO 233:1984
ISO 269:1985
ISO 328:1989
ISO 478:1974
ISO 593:1974
ISO 838:1974
ISO 1000:1992

Quantities and units
Paper - trimmed size -A and B series
Transliteration of Arabic characters into Latin characters
Correspondence envelopes -Destination and sizes
Picture Postcards and lettercards -size
Paper-Untrimmed size for the ISO A size-ISO primary range
Paper-Untrimmed size for the ISO A size-ISO supplementary range
Paper -holes for general filing purpose -Specification
SI units and recommendation for the use of their multiples and of cirtain otherunits(reviced to ISO 2014:1976, and then replaced by ISO/IEC 8601:1988)
Graphical representation for the control characters of 7 -bit coded character set
Continuous forms used for information processing -sizes and sprocket feed
holes
Presentation of SI and other units in systems with limited character sets
Codes for the representation of names of countries(This standard is replaced by ISO 8601:1988)
Forms design sheet and layout chart
Romanization of Japanese (Kana script)
Safety colours and safety symbols
Code for representation of currencies and funds
Line spacing and character spacing
Layout key for trade documents
Representation of numerical values in character strings for informationinterchanges
Correspondence envelopes -Vocabulary
Graphycal Symbols for use on public information sign
Romanization of Chinese
Form design -Basic layout
Representation of dates and times
Ergonomic requirements for office work visual display terminals (VDTs)
Font information interchange
Postal addressing -format

ISO/R 2014:1971
ISO 2047:1975
ISO 2784:1974
ISO 2955:1983
ISO 3166:1993
ISO 3307:1975
ISO 3535:1977
ISO 3602:1989
ISO 3864:1984
ISO 4217:1990
ISO 4882;1979
ISO 6422:1985
ISO 6093
ISO 6924:1983
ISO 7001:1990
ISO 7098:1991
ISO 8439:1990
ISO/IEC 8601:1988
ISO 9241-1/3:1992
ISO/IEC 9545-1/3:1991
ISO 11180:1993

ICS(International Classification for Standards)

B.2

National Standards

China

CNA

GB 2894-88
GB/T 7408-94
GB 9704-94
GB/T 10001-1994
GB 12406-95
GB 14392-93

Hong Kong

HKG

no specific to HKG standard
HKG uses international standard(s) and/or other national standard(s) on
products for export, depending on the country of destination

India

IND

IS 2:1960
IS 1064:1980
IS 1890:1982
IS 6298:1971
Books
IS 7900:1976
IS 10005:1994
IS 10934:1984
IS 11366:1985

Indonesia

INA

n/a

Japan

JPN

JIS S 5502 -1993
JIS S 5503 -1976
JIS S 5505 -1994
JIS S 5507 -1983
JIS S 6041 -1982
JIS X 0124 -1981
JIS X 0209 -1976
JIS X 0301 -1977
JIS X 0302 -1977
JIS X 0304 -1988
JIS Z 8202 -1985
JIS Z 8203 -1985
JIS Z 8305 -1962
JIS Z 8401 -1961
JIS Z 8903 -1984
JIS Z 8904 -1976
JIS Z 8904 -1976
JIS Z 9101 -1995
JIS Z 9104 -1995(ISO 3864-1984)(ISO 8601-88)
Layout key for official document of administration(ISO 7001-1990)(ISO 4217-90)

Rules for Rounding Off Numerical Values (reviced)
Paper size (ISO 216:1975, ISO 478:1974, ISO 593:1974)
Units and Symbols (ISO 31:1981 series)
Guide for Selection of Type and Page Layout in Text
Method for writing calendar dates in all numeric forms(ISO/R 2014:1971)(ISO 1000:1992)
Representation of the time date (24 hr) (ISO 3307:1975)
Representation of units (ISO 2955:1985)

Envelopes and Pocket
Writing Pads
Office files (flat file)Multi-Plong Binders
Paper Punches
Representation of unit symbols for informationinterchange(ISO 2047)
Identification Code of Dates
Identification Code of Times(ISO 3166)(ISO 31/0-5, 7, 8, 10. 13)(ISO 1000)
Dimension of Printing types
Rules for Rounding off of numerical values
Standard Type of letters Used in Mechanical Engraving(Joyo Kanji, Common use Chinese characters)
Standard Type of letters Used in Mechanical Engraving(Katakana characters}
Standard Type of letters Used in Mechanical Engraving(Arabic Figures and Roman Types)(ISO 3864)
Safety Symbols

KoreaKOR

KS A 0021 -1962
KS A 0105 -1995
KS A 0201 -1977
KS A 0202 -1981
KS A 0203 -1981
KS A 3501 -1990
KS A 3502 -1989
KS A 5201 -1990
KS A 5401 -1972
KS A 5402 -1986
KS C 5610 -1992
KS C 5713 -1992
KS C 5621 -1980
KS C 5676 -1994
KS C 5713 -1992
KS G 2501 -1988
KS G 2504 -1987
KS G 2505 -1987
KS G 2506 -1987
KS G 2509 -1987

Rules for rounding of numerical values
SI units and the use of their multiples and of certain other
units
Dimentions of printing types
Standard type of letters used in mechanical engraving(daily-use Chinese characters)
Standard type of letters used in mechanical engraving(Arabic figures and Roman type)
General code of safety colours
General rules for coloured light for safety
Trimmed size of paper
Writing of calendar dates in all-numeric form
Numbering of weeks
Identification code of dates and times(ISO 2047)
Unit symbols for information interchange
Representation of SI and other units in systems withlimited character set
Graphycal representations control characters for
information interchange
Envelopes and pockets
Report papers
Scrtchboard and drafting papers
Writing pads
Fools-cap paper

Malaysia

MAS

MS 1134: 1989

Method for representing SI unit in information processing
systems with limited character sets
MS ISO 6093: 1993
(ISO 6093)
MS ISO/IEC 9541-1:1995(ISO/IEC 9541-1)
MS ISO/IEC 9541-2:1995(ISO/IEC 9541-2)
MS ISO/IEC 9541-3:1995(ISO/IEC 9541-3)
MS ISO/IEC 9545-1:1995
ISO/IEC 9545-1)
MS ISO/IEC 9545-2:1995
ISO/IEC 9545-2)
MS ISO/IEC 9545-3:1995(ISO/IEC 9545-3)

Philippines

PHI

Singapore
ThailandSIN
THI

PNS 01-1983:
A standard for standards
PNS 70-1986:
Specification for bond paper, white and coloredPNS 222-1988:
Specification for paper for plain paper copies
PNS 269-1985
Specification for envelopes
PNS 3864-1984/1989 Safety colors and safety signs
PNS 235-1989
Flexible prong paper fasteners
PNS 558-1991
Ball point pens and refills
PNS 293-1991
Representation of date and times
PNS 1082-1992
Public information symbols
PNS 1083-1992
Development and Principles for application of public
information symbols
n/a
TIS 262
Untrimmed Stock Sizes of Paper (1978)
TIS 380
Sizes of Correspondence Envelope (1978)
TIS 1099
Rovincial identification code for Data interchange (1992)
TIS 1111
Representation of Date and Time (1992)

Annex C
National Holidays
Date of national holidays are defined in two methods
a. Fixed recurring date every year (in modern calendar) e.g. Independence day, Christmas day etc.,.
b. By other method, Flexible calendar dates such as to follow a traditional calendar (mostly Lunar calendar).
Religious and/or traditional festival day based national holidays are sometimes in this method.
The date for national holiday is announced in modern calendar in corresponding dates for the “real”
calendar (Thus, the date varies every year in modern calendar). e.g. Chinese New Year
China

CNA

New Years Day
Chinese New Year

Jan. 01
1st day of 1st month in Lunar
calendar
Women Day
Mar. 08
Planting Trees Day
Mar. 12Ching Ming Festival
5th day of 4th month in Lunar
calendarMay Day (labour day)May 01Youth Day
May 04
Children Day
Jun. 01
Birthday of the Communist Party of China
Jul. 01
Birthday of People’s Liberation Army of China
Aug. 01
Chinese Mid-Autumn
15th day of 8th month in Lunar
calendar
Teacher Day
Sep. 10National Day
Oct. 01

Hong Kong

HKG

New Years Day
Lunar New Year Day

Jan.1
1st day of 1st month in Lunar
calendar
Second day of Lunar New Year (by Lunar Calendar)
Ching Ming Festival
4th or 5th day of 3rd month in Lunar
calendarGood Friday
The day following Good Friday
Easter Monday
Tuen Ng Festival
The Birthday of Her majesty the Queen
Saturday of 2nd week in
June
The Monday following the Queen’s Birthday
Saturday before Liberation Day
Liberation Day
Last Monday in Aug.
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival 15th day of 8th month in Lunar
calendarThe day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
Chung Yeng Festival
9th day of 9th month in Lunar
calendarThe day following Chung Yeung Festival
Christmas
Dec. 25
The first week-day after Christmas day

IndiaIND

Holidays in other method are for various religious festivals and aredetermined by on the bases of Lunar Calendar. This Lunar
calendar is known as religious calendar (Saka calendar) which isbased on the new moonending and full moon ending. The date ofthis religious calendar are then converted to the corresponding
dates of Saka Calendar and Western Calendar for use andreference of general public.
The date for year 1996 are:Republic Day

Jan. 26

Idu’l Fitr
Feb. 21Holi
Mar. 05
Ram Navmi
Mar. 28
Mahavir Jayanthi
Apr. 01
Good Friday
Apr. 05
Idu’l Zuha
Apr. 29
Budha Pumima
May. 03
MuharramMay. 29
Milad-un-Nabi or id-e-Milad
JUL.29(Birthday of Prophet Mohammed)
Independence Day
Aug. 15
Janmashtami
Sep. 05
Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday
Oct. 02
Dussehra (Vijaya Dashmi)
Oct. 21
Diwali (Deepavali)
Nov. 10
Guru Nanak’s Birthday
Nov. 25
Christmas Day
Dec. 25
In addition to the above closed holidays, each employee may also
parmitted to avail him/herself of any two holidays to be choosen by
him/her out of the list of Restricted Holidays given below:
New Year’s day
Jan. 01
Makarasankaranti/Pongal
Jan. 15
Basant Panchami/Sri PanchamiJan. 24
Gru Ravidas’s birthday
Feb, 04
Maharishi DayanandFeb. 14
Saraswathi Jayanti
Jamat-UI-Vide
Feb. 16
Mahashivratri
Feb. 17
Holi (Holiladahan)Mar. 04
Chaitra Sukladi/Ugedi
Mar. 20
Vaisakhi/Mesadi
Apr. 13
Vish/Vaisakhadi/Bahag Bihu
Apr. 14Rath Yatra
Jul. 17
Parsai New Year
Aug. 22
Onam
Aug. 27
Raksha BandhanAug. 28
Ganesh Chaturthi/
Sep. 16
Vinayaka Chyaturthi
Dussehra (Maha Saptami)
Oct. 19
Dussehra (Maha Ashtami)
Oct. 20
Dussehra (Maha Navami)
Oct. 21Maharishi Valmikis Birthday
Oct. 26
Marka Chaturdesi
Nov. 10Govardhan Puja
Nov. 11
Bhai Duj
Nov. 12
Hazrat Ali’s Birthday
Nov. 25
Guru Teg Bahadur Martyrdom Day

Dec. 07

Indonesia

INA

New Years Day
Easter Day
Ascension Day
Independence Day
Christmas Day

Jan. 01
Apr. 14May. 20
Aug. 17
Dec. 25

The Seclution Day
Following list is National Holidays with Islamic calendar.
The data of those days are always change one year to another.
Islamic New Year
Muharam 01
The Birth Day of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
Isra Mi’raj Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
Idul Fithri
Syawal 01
Idul Adha
Dzulhijjah 10

Rabiul Awal 12
Rajab 27

Following list is National Holiday in other calendar
Saka New Year

1st day of 1st month in Saka
calendarBirthday Anniversary of Buddha
8th day of 4th month in Lunar
calendar
Japan

JPN

rem-1:
note-1:Korea

KOR

New Years Day
Coming of Age Day
National Founding Day
Vernal Equinox Day
Greenery Day
May Day (labor day)Constitution Memorial Day
Citizen’s Day
Children’s Day
Maritime Day
Obon
Respect for the Age Day
Autumnal Equinox Day
Health Sports Day
Culture Day
Labor Thanksgiving Day
Emperor’s Birth Day

Jan. 01
Jan. 15
Feb. 11Mar. 21
Apr. 29
May. 01
May. 03
May. 04
May. 05
Jul. 20
Aug. 15
Sep. 15
Sep. 23
Oct. 10
Nov. 03
Nov. 23
Dec. 23

note-1

If holiday is Sunday, following Monday is complement day-off
Not national holoday, but most of offices (include. gov.-ofice) are closed
New Years Day
Lunar New Year
Independence Movement Day
Labor dayChildren’s Day
Buddha’s Birthday
Memorial Day
Constitution Day
Liberation Day
Harvest Festival Day
National Foundation Day
Christmas Day

Jan. 01, 02
Jan. 01 in Lunar Calendar
Mar. 01
May. 01
May. 05
Apr. 08 in Lunar Calendar
Jun. 06
Jul. 17
Aug. 15
Aug. 15 in Lunar Calendar
Oct. 03
Dec. 25

MalaysiaMAS

Thaipusam
by Indian Saka calendar
Chinese New Year
by Lunar calendar
Hari Raya Puasa
by Muslim Hijrah calendar
May Day (labor day)May. 01
Hari Raya Haji
by Muslim Hijrah calendar
Birthday of HM the Yang Di Perluan Agong
Jun. 05
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday by Muslim Hijrah calendar
Merdeka
Aug. 31
Deepavali
by Indian Saka calendar
Christmas
Dec. 25

PhilippinesPHI

New Years Day
Araw Ng Kagitingan
Maunday Thursday
Good Friday
May Day (Labor day)
Independence Day
National Heroes Day
All Saints Day
Bonifacio Day
Christmas Day
Rizal Day

Singapore

ThailandSIN

THI

New Years Day
Chinese New Year
Hari Raya Puasa
Good Friday
May Day (labour day)
Hari Raya Haji
Vesak Day
National Day
Deepavali
Christmas
New Year Day
Makha Bucha Day

Jan. 01
Apr. 09
varies every year depending on
the liturgical calendar
same as Maunday Thursday
May. 01
Jun. 12
Aug. 27
Nov. 01
Nov. 30
Dec. 25
Dec. 31
Jan. 01
By Lunar calendar
Syawal (Moslem calendar)
May. 01
Zulhijah (Muslim calendar)
Aug. 09
Dec. 25

Jan. 01
Feb.
date depends on each Era
calendar year.
Chakri Memorial Day
Apr. 06
Songkran Festival Day
Apr. 12-14 ( Thai New Year days)
National Labour Day (May day) May. 01
Coronation Day
May 05
Ploughing Ceremony Day
May,date depends on each Era
calendar year.
Visakha Bucha Day
May,
date depends on each Era
calendar year.
Asanha Bhucha Day
Jul.
date depends on each Era
calendar year.
Khaophansa Day
Jul.
day after Asa Ihabhucha Day
Buddhist Lent Day
Jul. a day after Asanha Bucha
Day.
Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday
Aug. 12King Rama V Memorial Day
Oct. 23
His Majesty the King’s Birthday Dec. 05
Thai Constitution Day
Dec. 11
New Year’s Eve
Dec. 31Annex D
Paper Size
A series 4A0
2A0
A0
A1
A2
A3
A4
A6
A7
A8
A9
A10

1682 X 2378 mm
1189 X 1682 mm
841 X 1189 mm
594 X 841 mm
420 X 594 mm
297 X 420 mm
210 X 297 mm
105 X 148 mm
74 X 105 mm
52 X 74 mm
37 X 52 mm
26 X 37 mm

C series C0
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6
C7
C8

917 X 1297 mm
648 X 917 mm
458 X 648 mm
324 X 458 mm
229 X 324 mm
162 X 229 mm
114 X 162 mm
81 X 114 mm
57 X 81 mm

B series
B0
B1
B2
B3
B4
B6
B7
B8
B9
B10

1000 X 1414 mm
707 X 1000 mm
500 X 707 mm
353 X 500 mm
250 X 353 mm
125 X 176 mm
88 X 125 mm
62 X 88 mm
44 X 62 mm
31 X 44 mm

D series D0
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
D7
D8

771 X 1000 mm
545 X 771 mm
385 X 545 mm
272 X 385 mm
192 X 272 mm
136 X 192 mm
96 X 136 mm
68 X 96 mm
48 X 68 mm

Annex E
Points Size (US/UK vs. Europe)

US/UK size
Pica points

inchEurope size
Didot points

mm

06
08
10
12
14
16
18
20
24

0830
1107
1383
1660
1936
2213
2490
2766
3320

05.60807.47709.346
11.21513.08414.95416.82318.69222.430

2.108
2.811
3.514
4.217
4.920
5.622
6.325
7.028
8.434

Europe size
Didot points

mm

US/UK size
Pica points

inch

06
08
10
12
14
16
18
20
24

2.255
3.007
3.759
4.511
5.263
6.014
6.766
7.518
9.023

06.41908.55910.69912.83914.97917.11819.25821.39825.678

0888
1184
1480
1776
2072
2368
2664
2960
3552

Annex F
AFSIT membership
China
CNA
China National Organization Registration Authority Center (CNRAC)
China State Bureau of Technical Supervision (CSBITS)
Bldg. No.52-4-103, No. A3 Hua Yuan road, Hai Dian District,

BeijingHong Kong
HKG
Information Technology Services Department (ITSD), Hong Kong Government
Wanchai Tower 15/F, 12 Harbour Road, Wanchai
HONG KONG

India
IND
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002 INDIA
Indonesia
INA
Standardization Council of Indonesia (DSN)
Sasana Widya Sarwono, LIPI, JI. Gatot Subroto 10
Jakarta 12710
INDONESIA

Tel. +86 10-6235-3643
Fax.+86 10-6235-3643
10083
P. R. of CHINA

Tel. +852 2582-4525
Fax.+852 28024549/2824-3208

Tel. +91 11-3232979
Fax.+91 11-3234062

Tel. +62 21-756-0212/18 (ext. 5057)
Fax.+62 21-520-7226

Japan
JPN
Information Technology & Electrotechnical Standards Division, Standard Department,
Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Tel. +81 3-3501-1723
1-3-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100
JAPAN
Fax.+81 3-3580-8631
.
Korea
KOR
Electronics and Information Standards Division, National Institute of Technology and Quality (NITAQ)
1509, Kwangyang-dong, Dongan-ku, Anyang-si, Kyonggi-do,
431-060
R. of KOREA
Tel. +82 323-84-6007
Fax.+82 323-84-1864
Malaysia
MAS
Standard Engineering & Certification Unit
Standards Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM)
P.O.Box 7035, 40911, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan,

MALAYSIA

Philippines
PHI
National Computer Center (NCC)
C.P. Garcia Avenue, U.P. Campus, Dilman, Quezon City

Tel. +63 2-920-7421/11
PHILIPPINES Fax.+63 2-920-7444

Singapore
SIN
Industry & Technology Development, National Computer Board (NCB)
71, Science Park Drive, NCB Building, Singapore 0511 SINGAPORE
ThailandTHI
Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), Ministry of Industry
Rama 6 Street, Bangkok 10400
THAILANDAFSIT-Secretariat
Center of the International Cooperation for Computerization (CICC)
Mita 43 Mori Bldg., 3-13-16, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108

Tel. +60 3-556-7920
Fax.+60 3-550-9439

Tel. +65 778-2211
Fax.+65 779-0519

Tel. +66 2-246-1174/6
Fax.+66 2-248-3132/247-8741

JAPAN

Tel. +81 3-3457-0941
Fax.+81 3-3457-0944

Annex G
AFSIT Correspondents for IT Standardization(as of August 31, 1996)
China
CNA
Mr. Bai Yang, Deputy Director General
China National Organization Registration Authority Center (CNRAC)
China State Bureau of Technical Supervision (CSBITS)
Bldg. No.52-4-103, No. A3 Hua Yuan road, Hai Dian District,

Beijing

Tel. +86 10-6235-3643
Fax.+86 10-6235-3643
10083
P. R. of CHINA

Hong Kong
HKG
Mr. Alfred Ng, Senior Systems Manager
Information Technology Services Department(ITSD), Hong Kong Government
Wanchai Tower 15/F, 12 Harbour Road, Wanchai
HONG KONG

Tel. +852 2582-4525
Fax.+852 2802-2549
khuan@itsd.gen.gov.hk

India
IND
Mr. Harcharan Singh, Director (Electronics)
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002 INDIA

Tel. +91 11-3232979
Fax.+91 11-3234062

Indonesia
INA
Mr. Bambang H. Hadiwiardjo, Secretary of Excecutive Council
Standardization Council of Indonesia (DSN)
Sasana Widya Sarwono, LIPI, JI. Gatot Subroto 10
Jakarta 12710
INDONESIA

Tel. +62 21-756-0212/18 (ext. 5057)
Fax.+62 21-520-7226

Japan
JPN
Mr. Akio Kanaya, Director
Information Technology & Electrotechnical Standards Division, Standard Department,
Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Tel. +81 3-3501-1723
1-3-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100
JAPAN
Fax.+81 3-3580-8631
.
Korea
KOR
Mr. Young-Goo Kwon, Director
Electronics and Information Standards Division, National Institute of Technology and Quality (NITAQ)
1509, Kwangyang-dong, Dongan-ku, Anyang-si, Kyonggi-do,
431-060
Republic of KOREA
Tel. +82 343-84-1864
Fax.+82 343-84-6077
Malaysia
MAS
Mr. Wan Ahmad Jailani WAN MAHMUD, Research Officer
Standard Engineering & Certification Unit
Standards Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM)
P.O.Box 7035, 40911, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan,

MALAYSIA

Tel. +60 3-556-7920
Fax.+60 3-550-9439

Philippines
PHI
Mr. Fermin P. Javier, Managing Director
National Computer Center (NCC)
C.P. Garcia Avenue, University of the Philippines,
Diliman, Quezon CityPHILIPPINES

Tel. +63 2-920-7420
Fax.+63 2-920-7444

SingaporeSIN
Mr. Charles Pang T. Howe, Senior Industry officer
Industry and Technology Development, National Computer Board (NCB)
71, Science Park Drive, NCB Building, Singapore 0511 SINGAPORE

Tel. +65 778-2211
Fax.+65 778-9641

Thailand THI
Mr. Thien Mekanontchai, Secretary GeneralThai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), Ministry of Industry
Rama 6 Street, Bangkok 10400
THAILAND

Tel. +66 2-246-1174/6
Fax.+66 2-248-3132/247-8741

AFSIT-Secretariat
Mr. Tatsuo Tanaka, Exective Director
Mr. Yuji Hashimoto, General Manager-International Promotion Division
Mr. Masayoshi Sawayama, Deputy General Manager-International Promotion DepartmentTel. +81 3-3457-0941
Center of the International Cooperation for Computerization (CICC)
Fax.+81 3-3457-0944
Mita 43 Mori Bldg., 3-13-16, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108 JAPANsawayama@mori-server.cicc.or.jp

Annex H
List of AFSIT SIG Experts and SIG Participants
Chair-person
Prof. Eisuke Naito, Professor (SIG-1, 2, 3, 4)
National Center for Science Information Systems (NACSIS)
3-29-1, Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112
JAPANnaito@rd.nacsis.ac.jp

Secretary (acting Editor)(SIG-1, 2, 3, 4)
Mr. Takayuki K. Sato, Manager-External Standards
Hewlett-Packard Japan (HPJ) MS B3-1-3
9-1, Takakura-cho, Hachioji, Tokyo 192
takayuki-k_sato@hpjpn.desk.hp.com

Tel. +81 3-3942-6958
Fax.+81 3-5395-7064

Tel. +81 426-60-3233
Fax.+81 426-60-8659
JAPAN

China
CNA
**Mr. Fang Qing, Diector-Dept. of Information Technology Standardization (SIG-2, 3, 4)
China Standardization and Information Classifying & Coding Institute (CSICCI)
Tel. +86 10-6492-1025
China State Bureau of Technical Supervision (CSBTS)
Fax.+86 10-6492-1032
No.3 Yuhui South road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029 P.R. of CHINA
fq@mail.chinapro.net.cn
Mr. Dong Baiyu, Deputy Director- Dept. of Technology Development (SIG-4)
China Standardization and Information Classifying & Coding Institute (CSICCI)
China State Bureau of Technical Supervision (CSBTS)
P.O. Box 1657, Beijing 100009 P.R. of CHINA*Mr. Bai Yang, Deputy Director General (SIG-1)
China National Organization Registration Authority Center (CNRAC)
China State Bureau of Technical Supervision (CSBITS)
Bldg. No.52-4-103, No. A3 Hua Yuan road, Hai Dian District,

BeijingHong Kong
HKG**Mr. PANG Paul Ping Keun, Systems Manager (A)15 (SIG-4)
Information Technology Services Department, Hong Kong Government (ITSD)
Wanchai Tower 15/F, 12 Harbour Road, Wanchai
HONG KONG
ppkpang@itsd.gen.gov.hk

Tel. +86 10-403-4052
Fax.+86 10-401-4885
Tel. +86 10-6235-3643
Fax.+86 10-6235-3643
10083
P. R. of CHINA

Tel. +852 2961-8032
Fax.+852 2573-7076

Mr. Alfred Ng, Senior Systems Manager (SIG-4)
Tel. +852 2582-4525
Information Technology Services Department, Hong Kong Government (ITSD)Fax.+852 2802-2549/2824-3208
Wanchai Tower 15/F, 12 Harbour Road, Wanchai
HONG KONG
khuan@itsd.gen.gov.hk*Mr. Samuel TAM, Systems Manager (SIG-3)
Information Technology Services Department, Hong Kong Government (ITSD)
Wanchai Tower 15/F, 12 Harbour Road, Wanchai
HONG KONG

Tel. +852 2582-4525
Fax.+852 2573-7073*Ms. MOK Kwai Joice, Systems Manager (SIG-1, 2)
Information Technology Services Department, Hong Kong Government (ITSD)
Wanchai Tower 15/F, 12 Harbour Road, Wanchai
HONG KONG

Tel. +852 2839-3211
Fax.+852 2576-0359

IndiaIND*Mr. Laxman Swarup, Deputy Director (Electronics)(SIG-3, 4)
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002
BISNET@doe.ernet.in

Tel. +91 11-3232979
Fax.+91 11-3234062
INDIA

Dr. K. Subramanian, Senior Technical Director(SIG-4)
National Informatics Centre (Computer Cell, Room No. 35/AB)
Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of FinanceNorth Block, New Delhi
110001 INDIA
ksdir@hub.nic.in*Mr. A.S. RAWAT: Joint Director (electronics) (SIG-2)
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002*Mr. Harcharan Singh, Director (Electronics)(SIG-1 absent)
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002

Tel. +91 11-3016518
Fax.+91 11-3015610

Tel. +91 11-3322979
Fax.+91 11-3314062
INDIA
Tel. +91 11-3322979
Fax.+91 11-3314062
INDIA

Indonesia
INA**Mr. Sudarsian Masdar (SIG-1, 2, 3, 4)Research and Development Center for Calibration, Instrumentationand Metrology (PUSLIT BANG KIM-LIPI)
Puspiptek, Serpong, Tangerang 15310
INDONESIA

Tel. +62 21-756-0533/5
Fax.+62 21-756-0568

Mr. Yustinus Kristianto Widiwardono, Head (SIG-4)
Subdivision of Information and Data Processing,
Institute for Standardization, LIPI
J1, Gatot Subroto 10, Jakarta 12710 INDONESIA

Tel. +62 21-522-4590
Fax.+62 21-520-6574

Japan
JPN
**Mr. Takayuki K. Sato (acting

SIG- 4)

Mr. Akio Kanaya, Director (SIG-4)
Information Technology & Electrotechnical Standards Division, Standard Department,
Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Tel. +81 3-3501-1723
1-3-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100
JAPAN
Fax.+81 3-3580-8631
Mr. Shinya Aihara (SIG-4)
Information Technology & Electrotechnical Standards Division, Standard Department,
Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Tel. +81 3-3501-1723
1-3-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100
JAPAN
Fax.+81 3-3580-8631*Mr. Makoto Noda, Assistant Manager(SIG-1, 2, 3)
2nd Language Processor Development Department
1st Basic Software Development Division, NEC Corporation
1-10, Nisshincho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183 JAPANnoda@lang2.bs1.fc.nec.co.jp
Mr. Hedio Setoya, Director (SIG-2, 3)
Mr. Yoshioki Sakai, Deputy Director (SIG-3)
Mr. Akio Yoshikawa, Deputy Director (SIG-2)
Mr. Seishi Maruo (SIG-2, 3)
Information Technology Standards Division, Standard Department,
Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
1-3-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100
JAPAN

Tel. +81 423-33-5058
Fax.+81 423-33-1858

Tel. +81 3-3457-0941
Fax.+81 3-3580-8637

KoreaKOR**Mr. Man-Han Hwang, Manager-Research department-1(SIG-4)
Korean Industrial Standards Institute
KOAMI Buldg. 8/FL, 13-31,
Yoido-dong, Yongdungpo-gu, 150-010 Seoul
R. of KOREA

Tel. +82 2-369-7930
Fax.+82 2-369-7925
mhhwang@kisi.or.kr

Mr. Won-Seop Lee, Director(SIG-4)
Electronics and Information Standards Division, National Institute of Technology and Quality (NITAQ)
1509, Kwangyang-dong, Dongan-ku, Anyang-si, Kyonggi-do,
431-060
R. of KOREA
Tel. +82 323-84-6007
Fax.+82 323-84-1864*Mr. Jae-Keun Kong, General Manager (SIG-1, 2, 3)
Korean Industrial Standards Institute
KOAMI Buldg. 8/FL, 13-31,
Yoido-dong, Yongdungpo-gu, 150-010 Seoul
R. of KOREA

Malaysia
MAS**Mr. Muhammd mun’im bin Ahmad Zabidi, Associate Professor (SIG-1, 2, 3, 4)
Faculty of Electrical Engineering,
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Sekudai Campus)
Locked building 791, 80990 Johor Bahru
MALAYSIA
raden@fkeserv.fke.utm.myraden@suria.fke.utm.my
Mr. Wan Ahmad Jailani WAN MAHMUD, Research Officer (SIG-4)
Standard Engineering & Certification Unit
Standards Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM)
P.O.Box 7035, 40911, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan,

MALAYSIA

Tel. +82 2-369-7930
Fax.+82 2-369-7925

Tel. +60 7-550-5001
Fax.+60 7-556-6272

Tel. +60 3-556-7920
Fax.+60 3-550-9439

Philippines
PHI**Ms. Irene Robles-Nolasco, Information Systems Analyst (SIG-3, 4)
Directorate for Plans and Policies, National Computer Center (NCC)
C.P. Garcia Avenue, University of Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES

Tel. +63 2-920-7411
Fax. +63 2-920-7444*Mr. Raul N. Nilo, (SIG-1, 2, 4)
Directorate for Infrastructure, National Computer Center (NCC)
C.P. Garcia Avenue, University of Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES

Tel. +63 2-911-5056/9
Fax. +63 2-920-7444

Singapore
SIN**Mr. Charles Pang T. Howe, Senior Industry Officer(SIG-4}
Industry & Technology Development,National Computer Board (NCB), Singapore
71, Science Park drive, NCB Building, Singapore 0511 SINGAPORE
cpang@ncb.gov.sg*Dr. Lua Kim Teng, Senior Lecturer
National University of Singapore
Kent Ridge, Singapore
luakt@iscs,nus.sg(SIG-1, 2)
0511

Tel. +65 772-0984
Fax.+65 779-5340

Tel. +65 772-2782
Fax.+65 779-4580
SINGAPOREThailand THI**Dr. Chularat Tanprasert, Researcher-Software Technology Lab. (SIG-4)
National Electronics and Computer Technology Center(NECTEC), National Science Tel. +66 2-642-7078
and Technology Development Agency, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment
Rama 6 Street, Bangkok 10400
THAILAND
Fax.+66 2-642-7064
chulak@nwg.nectec.or.th
Mr. Surayuth Boonmatat, Standards Officer-Standards Division
Thai Industrial Standards Institute, Ministry of Industry
Rama 6 Street, Bangkok 10400
THAILAND(SIG-4)Tel. +66 2-202-3501
Fax.+66 2-247-8741*Ms. Adahariya Agsorn-intara, IT specialist-National Information Technology
Committee Secreariat. (SIG-3),
National Electronics and Computer Technology Center(NECTEC), National Scienceand Technology Agency, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment
Tel. +66 2-644-8150..4
Rama 6 Street, Bangkok 10400
THAILAND
Fax.+66 2-644-8137*Dr. Thaweesak Koanantakool, Deputy Director (SIG-1, 2)
National Electronics and Computer Technology Center(NETEC), National Scienceand Technology Agency, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment
Rama 6 Street, Bangkok 10400
THAILAND
htk@nectec.or.th

AFSIT-Secretariat
Mr. Tatsuo Tanaka, Executive Director (SIG-4)
Prof. Masakazu Kobayashi, Executive Director (SIG-1, 2, 3)Center of the International Cooperation for Computerization (CICC)
Mita 43 Mori Bldg., 3-13-16, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108
Mr. Yuji Hashimoto, General Manager(SIG-4)**Mr. Masayoshi Sawayama, Deputy General Manager
Mr. Yoshioki Kanae, Senior Manager (SIG-2, 3, 4)
Mr. Sachio Watanabe, General Manager (SIG-2,3)
Mr. Takeo Kurosawa, General Manager (SIG-1)
International Promotion Division
Center of the International Cooperation for Computerization (CICC)
Mita 43 Mori Bldg., 3-13-16, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108

JAPAN

Tel. +66 2-644-8150..4Fax.+66 2-644-8137

Tel. +81 3-3457-0941
Fax.+81 3-3457-0944

Tel. +81 3-3457-0941
Fax.+81 3-3457-0944
JAPAN

Mr. Koji Tanabe, Managing Director-CICC Singapore (SIG-1)
Mr. Takashi Okura, Staff Engineer(SIG-1, 2)
Information Technology Research and Standardization Center
Japanese Standards Association (JSA)
1-24, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107
JAPANrem-1:
rem-2:** mark for Expert for post SIG-4 contacts* mark for SIG Expert

Tel. +81 3-3583-8077
Fax.+81 3-3583-2014