In the earlier article on the HNFTP, I had quoted the Singapore Prime Minister, Mr Lawrence Wong, who addressed the ‘like-minded’ relationship between the emerging Hainan Free Trade Port and the established Singapore Free Trade Port. He was very positive that when we cooperate to make the trade pie bigger, we will both receive a bigger slice of the trade in the process. In this latter article, I wish to present my personal take on this very salient aspect of the Hainan Free Trade Port.
It is true that, as a transhipment port, Singapore focuses on ASEAN, which now comprises 11 nations with a multiplicity of languages. Hence, proficiency with English, the current language for international business, is essential for Singapore. Hainan, however, is focused on the large Chinese domestic market, where the medium of communication is Chinese. In fact, one of the chief incentives designed to attract foreign investors to set up shop in Hainan is the tax-free transhipment into mainland China of semi-finished goods that had undergone primary processing in Hainan and whose added value is at least 30% of the imported raw material costs. Hence, is proficiency in English really necessary for Hainan in dealing with these foreign investors?
Firstly, we must not forget that tourism is the heavyweight sector contributing to Hainan’s GDP. According to government reports, the sector's combined direct and indirect contribution to Hainan's GDP reached 33.4%during the 2021-2025 period. In 2025 alone, the province welcomed over 106 million tourists, generating RMB 225 billion in tourist spending. It is also a major employer, directly supporting 914,000 jobs as of 2024.
In the latest 2030 Tourism Plan, Hainan aims for a broad expansion of its tourism economy with faster international growth. Total domestic and international visitor trips are projected to rise by 45% from 106 million in 2025 to 154 million in 2030, and tourist spending is projected to increase by 61% from RMB 225 billion to RMB 363 billion. To fully support the projected growth of international tourism, Hainan will require a significant improvement in the proficiency of English communication among the 1 million employees in the tourism sector.
Secondly, it is essential to know that the objectives of the HNFTP goes far beyond transhipment; the six key objectives of the HNFTP are (1) achieve deeper reform & opening-up, (2) create a world-class, business-friendly environment, (3) build modern industrial sectors, (4) achieve ecological and sustainable development, (5) promote innovation in science and technology, and (6) establish a high-quality life and social governance.
For instance, English is the lingua franca of international business. International trade negotiations, financial settlements, and global economic agreements are conducted in English. To create a world-class, business-friendly environment that attracts major multinational corporations (MNCs), which use English as their official corporate language, means that local employees working for such MNCs and employees of local corporations dealing with these MNCs must be conversant in English.
Meanwhile, to promote innovation in science and technology and to build modern industrial sectors, Hainan would require scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs, who are highly proficiency in English, and skilled workers, who are fairly proficient in English because around 80% of all public scientiifc publications are in English, and the proportion of publications in English is even higher in the advanced high-tech fields, e.g. AI.
Thirdly, the development of HNFTP is considered a 25-year project with the following critical milestones: (1) The first milestone is to have the policy framework fully established and the customs closure operation ready by 2025. (2) The second milestone is that the port should be operating more smoothly, with a mature legal system and a highly open economy by 2035. By 2050, Hainan is envisioned to become a globally influential high-level free trade port.
English is also the lingua franca for international law. For HNFTP to operate smoothly in ten years’ time, with a mature legal system for IP, copyright, arbitration, and mediation would require Hainan welcome foreign experts to quickly train many lawyers, paralegals, arbitrators, mediators, and judges in English.
In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, proficiency in English is essential for Hainan to achieve the status of a globally influential high-level free trade port by 2050! These circumstances also serve as guardrails when Mona and I offer our voluntary services in Hainan together with foreign talents from Haikou International Talent Home, encouraging primary school children in various parts of Hainan to learn English. Some of these children, with an international mindset and fluency in English, will be running the HNFTP in 20 years’ time!
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