海南位於中國最南端，長期的落後狀況與其得天獨厚的地理和資源優勢極其不符。1980年代嚴重經濟危機帶來的房屋、就業、收入、物價等問題嚴重打擊了原本脆弱的經濟體系，人民生活水平急速下降。1988年海南建省後，以旅遊業帶動經濟的做法雖然使情況有所好轉，但改變當地落後狀態卻非朝夕可至。一方面，農漁原始作業、工業基礎薄弱、缺乏支柱產業、金融系統漏洞百出、交通不便、內需有限等問題嚴重；另一方面，當地龐大的海洋資源得不到重視，使海南經濟競爭力在全國一直處於榜末行列。近年，中央逐漸意識到海南在國家經濟發展中的重要作用和巨大潛力，進行重點扶持；加上海南「大企業進入、大項目帶動」的成功實施，使「十五」成為海南歷史上收穫最豐的五年。

目前，海南處於發展初期，急需外來資金、人才與先進的管理經驗。與海南隔海相望的香港不僅地域、人文相近，兩地有著百年的經貿交流歷史；更重要的是，香港作為亞洲金融中心，發展成熟，在很多行業，包括海南重推的會展、旅遊、經貿、運輸業都處領先於亞洲、乃至世界。兩地合作互補性強，充滿商機，潛力巨大。

The Pan-Pearl River Delta Region and Hong Kong under the Eleventh Five-year Plan Research Series VI. Hainan and Hong Kong

Hainan is located at the southernmost point of China. Although it has abundant natural resources and oil reserves, the province’s development lags behind that of other southern coastal regions of the country. In the 1980s, Hainan experienced an economic crisis that adversely affected its real estate sector, employment levels, household income, and consumer prices. After becoming a province and a Special Economic Zone in 1988, Hainan has focused on developing its tourism industry. However, the province still faces many obstacles to economic development such as outdated agricultural and fishing methods, a weak industrial base, no pillar industries, a weak financial system, poor transport infrastructure, limited local demand, and the inadequate utilization of its ocean resources. Hainan remains one of the least developed provinces in China. In recent years, the central government has woken up to Hainan’s huge potential and the important role it could play in the economic development of the nation, and has accorded the province many preferential policies. The government’s support, together with the implementation of “big-enterprises-entering, large-project-promoting” strategies, have made the period of Hainan’s Tenth Five-year Plan the most successful five years in the province’s history.

Hainan now is at the cusp of a period of rapid economic development. It is in need of foreign capital, talent, and experienced management. An Asian financial centre, Hong Kong’s economy has been developing rapidly for decades. In many sectors it ranks among the best in Asia, and even the world, such as in conventions and exhibitions, tourism, commerce and trade, and transportation. Because of their economic complementarities, and given a century of close cultural, geographic, and economic links between the two places, the scope for cooperation between them is great.