A coast guard ship patrols Sanya Bay, South China's Hainan province. [Photo/IC]
South China's Hainan province and Hong Kong will deepen their cooperation in maritime safety and yacht entry, according to a press conference on April 12.
The two sides will ink new deals on joint maritime supervision, pollution prevention, emergency response, and rescue coordination.
The search and rescue centers in Hainan and Hong Kong have launched many joint operations over the years, said Wu Pingsheng, deputy director of the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration.
Hong Kong boasts rich experience in maritime administration and strong connections with the International Maritime Organization, Wu said. Hainan and Hong Kong will develop new cooperation methods, including exchanging visits from safety inspectors and holding maritime seminars on a regular basis.
The cooperation will also help to streamline the administrative approvals of foreign yachts, making Hainan the first province-level area to manage such entries directly.
Entry and exit approval procedures, for example, have been simplified and the single voyage certification registration has been canceled, providing easier access for yachts from Hong Kong and Macao to Hainan province.
Overview
Haikou 
Sanya 
