I stumbled across this earlier.
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Notice on transmitting the people’s government of Hebei about standardizing and using Chinese Pin Yin to spell the standard place name further of Ministry of Civil Affairs

(release on May 26, 2003)

The 102nd of letters of the people (2003) May 26, 2003

Every Bureau of Civil Affairs of province, autonomous region and municipality directly under the Central Government (office), the place name administrative department in charge in Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai:

To spell, translate and write the place name according to relevant national regulation is the request of masses of the people, it meets the desirability of urbanization, informationization, and globalization. It is the duties of the people’s governments at all levels to strengthen the work of management and service of the place name, and to improve the standardization of the name of the place. People’s government in Hebei province attaches importance to the work of standardization of name, issued the notice on standardizing and using Chinese Phonetic Alphabet to spell the standard place name further recently, has made the clear regulation in the way of writing, spelling the standard place name, the range of standard name included and the request of standard name using. Publicize here for reference.

After joining WTO, in order to meet the needs of internationalization, our country has improved the speed of stepping in line with international standards in such fields as economy, etc. The place name, which is taken as a media in people’s society’s association and economic activity, has been closely related to various kinds of economic activities and the people’s daily life. Especially in the modern society, with the development of market economy and quickening of the economic globalization process, place name, as an indispensable propagation information carrier, the frequency of its utilization is higher and higher, and the voice to make it keep up with international standards is stronger and stronger. So the demand of standardization, formalization and informationization becomes more and more urgent.

The spelling of the Roman alphabet of Chinese place name is regarded as Scheme for the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet which announced by the country as the norm of unifying. It is proposed by our country, passed through discussion in “The Third Meeting of the Standardized Place Name” in the United Nations, accepted and used extensively in many countries including main country of American-European area in the world as an international standard. Some country’s relevant laws and regulations as NATIONAL LAW OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGES IN COMMON USE OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. RULES OF PLACENAME MANAGEMENT, etc. have done the clear provisions with this. Hope all parts carry out laws and regulations and policies of the national relevant place name conscientiously, and do a good job of standardization of the place name of our country.

Notice on standardizing and using Chinese Phonetic Alphabet to spell the standard place name further of the people’s government of Hebei province.

The 35th of policy letter of Ji (2003)
April 17th, 2003
Each municipal government which set up administrative sanction, each department in provincial government:

According to the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet which was passed in the “The Third Meeting of the Standardized Place Names” in the United Nations as the international standard spelling of the Roman alphabet of Chinese place name, and the State Council regulations “Use the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet to Spell the Standard Place Name of Our Country”, now notify the problems on further standardizing Chinese phonetic alphabet and using it to spell the standard place name as follows:

1. The writing and spelling of standard place name
   1. Writing the place name with Chinese characters, should use national standard Chinese characters confirmed.
   2. Spelling Chinese name with the Chinese phonetic alphabet, must spell according to THANSLITERATION RULES FOR CHINA’S PLACE NAMES INTO CHINESE PHONETIC ALPHABETS (chapters of Chinese place names).
   3. Translating and writing of Chinese characters of the place name of ethnic minority according to relevant regulations; Its spelling method is carried out according to THANSLITERATION MEASURES FOR PLACE NAMES FROM MINORITY LANGUAGES INTO CHINESE PHONETIC ALPHABETS
   4. Cannot use English and other foreign languages to spell the place name.
2. The standard place name includes
   1. Such administrative division names as the province and city, county (including the county-level city , district ), township (town ) ,etc., such names as the villagers’ committee, natural village, subdistrict office, residents committee, etc.;
   2. Names of Street, road, path, lane, small lane, Li, Nong;
   3. Development zone, industrial area, trade and business district, residential block, biotope and such names as the number (unit plate, room plate) ,etc.
   4. Such entity’s names of physical geography as mountain, river, lake, sea, shallow lake, bay, mud flat, island and reef, etc.;
   5. The names of platform, stand, port, field, railway, road, bridge, floodgate containing, reservoir, channel, scenic spot, scenic spots and historical sites, commemorative site, excursion center, buildings (group) , cultural stadium , enterprises and institutions, etc., which have meanings.
3. Must use the standard place name in the following activities and items:
   1. The agreement that signed in foreign language with foreign countries;
   2. The document, announcement, and certificate which are issued by the organ, army, public organization , enterprises and institutions;
   3. All kinds of newspapers and periodicals, the map or relevant books and broadcast, movie ,TV , etc.;
   4. All kinds of trade mark, board, advertisement, official seal, etc.;
   5. The street (way) lane (small lane) sign , floor (institute) number (unit plate, room plate), scenic spot direction sign , traffic sign , public transport station board;
   6. Effective certificate, business license and household registration for Postal service, communication, and domicile.
4. Relevant regulations issued before, if not in accordance with a content of announcement ones, subject to this notice. If not go with the notice, correct it immediately.