Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director Clara Chong announced Sunday in Shanghai that residents of all 21 cities in south China's Guangdong Province will be permitted to travel as individuals to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) beginning in May.

Residents of eight of Guangdong's cities have enjoyed the privilege since last year. Tourists from the other cities were permitted to travel to Hong Kong only with tour groups.

Beijing and Shanghai already allow individual travelers to visit Hong Kong.

Chong also said that her board has targeted cities surrounding the Bohai Sea, including Tianjin, Dalian, Shenyang and Jinan, for possible tourism in the future.

"We have conducted detailed investigations into the cities in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta areas, as well as areas surrounding the Bohai Sea. Results will be submitted to the National Tourism Administration," said Chong.

"We hope Chinese cities can increasingly open to more convenient trips to Hong Kong. But this requires a decision from the central government," she noted.

Chong was attending the opening of mainland promotions for the Avenue of Stars, a new tourism destination in Hong Kong's Tsin Sha Tsui that displays highlights of Hong Kong's booming film industry.

The 122-meter avenue, which faces Victoria Harbor, will open to the public on April 28.

(China Daily March 29, 2004)