"The trial policy of allowing easy access to Hong Kong, which will be operational in four cities in Guangdong from July 28, will open up a huge potential in the tourism market, attracting more local residents to travel to Hong Kong," said Stephen Shu-Kwan, secretary for economic services of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region.

Zhongshan, Dongguan, Foshan and Jiangmen have a total population of 10 million, and one-tenth of these have shown an interest in traveling to Hong Kong, according to a survey conducted by the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Administration.

Some 6.82 million mainland tourists traveled to Hong Kong last year, with people from Guangdong accounting for 42 per cent.

"Travelers in Hong Kong from Guangdong will leave a deep impression on both local and foreign people there, who are also potential travelers to Guangdong," said Zheng Tongyang, the provincial tourism administration chairman.

In addition to this, five agreements were signed between Guangdong and East China's Shandong and Jiangxi, Central China's Hunan, and South China's Hainan provinces respectively last Tuesday.

"Guangdong can be developed as the center, deepening mutual support with the neighboring regions to help kick-start the currently stagnant tourism market," said Zheng.

(China Daily July 7, 2003)