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History
Haikou, on the north coast, was formerly a treaty port. It was seized by Japanese forces in 1939 but was returned to China in 1945. It was designated a special economic zone in 1987, offering incentives for foreign trade and investment. In 1988 the island was separated from Guangdong and made into a new province.
It is said that berries were used to dye the flag. Red represents the blood shed in the past and the willingness to offer it again. White stands for right, truth, the honour of free citizens, and trustworthiness. Effective date: 27 February 1990.
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