Contestants from 112 countries and regions, including three from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong, will take part in the 54th Miss World Competition this year, the competition's organizing agency announced Thursday.

"Although some girls have quit the pageant, there are still 112 contestants, the most in the history of Miss World," said Julia Morley, executive chairperson of the competition's organizing agency.

The final round of the competition will be held in Sanya in China's southernmost province of Hainan on Dec. 4. The ladies are expected to arrive at the tropical resort on Nov. 8.

Sanya was the venue for the 53rd Miss World Competition. It is the second city in the world, after Sun City in South Africa, to hold two consecutive Miss World competitions.

The Miss World Competition was launched in 1951 in London as part of the New Year celebrations in Britain with the sponsorship of Eric Morley, who died in 2000. Morley's widow, Julia, succeeded him and is now executive chairperson of the organizing agency.

The competition is designed to promote world peace, set "an exemplary image" for women and help starving children.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2004)