Guangdong invites individuals to develop uninhabited islands

GUANGZHOU - Xinhua, China's State newsagency, is reporting that it is now possible in Guangdong province for entities and individuals to use a number of uninhabited islets for purposes such as tourism and aquaculture.

Guangdong will transfer the right to use islets through ways such as bidding and auction, "according to a document which took effect Friday", Xinhua says.

The timeframe for developing the uninhabited islands varies for different uses: 25 years for tourism and recreation, 40 years for public welfare projects and 15 years for aquaculture, it says. www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).