'Flow of produces, tourists good for both'
By Zhang Jin and Lillian Liu (HK Edition)

Hainan Province will export more agricultural produces to Hong Kong and intensify the cooperation with the SAR in tourism sector, Governor Luo Baoming said yesterday.

"Hainan is famous for its agriculture and tourism. We should enhance ties with Hong Kong in these two areas," Luo told China Daily yesterday. He was in the city to attend the SAR's 10th anniversary celebrations.

The second largest island in China started exporting agricultural produces to Hong Kong from last year and aims to become a major source of Hongkongers' vegetable baskets.

Occupying more than 42 percent of tropical and sub-tropical land in China and with 7.7 million hectare cultivated land, Hainan is one of the most important agricultural bases in the country. Agriculture accounts for nearly 33 percent of the annual gross domestic product of the province.

Speaking about the tourism promotion, Luo expressed hope that the South China province and Hong Kong could work together to reach a synergy.

Hainan is the only tropical island in the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region, while Hong Kong has long been known as an international tourist destination, he said. "There is a lot we can do" to promote tourism.

Tourism package, for example, can be a good plan, he said.

Sanya, Hainan's key tourism city, has developed a travel route with Hong Kong to attract Russian visitors, he said.

Russians can enjoy the tropical beaches and sunshine and bathe hot spring in Sanya before they could travel to Hong Kong for business meetings.

Hainan and Hong Kong can create more similar packages and promote them across the world, Luo said.

Thanks largely to its tropical beaches and lush forests, the beautiful island received 796.6 million visitors from January to May this year, a 12 percent increase year-on-year. This has helped the province generate a revenue of 1.45 billion yuan.

Pointing out that Hong Kong has advantages in management and capital, the governor said that his government would need cooperation with the SAR in these areas.

Luo also urged the businesses from Hong Kong to invest in the island.

"More than 300,000 Hong Kong people are living and working in Hainan. They are part of the community," he said. "As an island economy, Hainan has to open up," he said. "If not, it will become a lonely island... a dead island."

On the province's competitiveness, the governor said a unique location will help strengthen its role in the region.

As China's nearest province to the Malacca Strait, the global oil lifeline, Hainan faces South China Sea and Indian Ocean.

In this regard, the province could play a role to connect the PPRD including Hong Kong and the Southeast Asia, he said.

"Hong Kong and Hainan can have a very good cooperation. Each has adequate resources what others lack," said Zhang Xubing, assistant professor for Department of Management & Marketing from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Hong Kong is experienced in tourism, catering and restaurant operations. What Hainan needs is to attract more business and leisure travelers. With a total territory covering slightly more than 1,100 square kilometers, Hong Kong is in need of agricultural products and foodstuff. "This is what Hainan can give Hong Kong," Zhang said.

(HK Edition 06/30/2007 page6)