Guangdong province plans to launch a pilot program to transfer the usage rights of uninhabited islands, Beijing Youth Daily reported.

It will use a bidding system to transfer the usage rights of uninhabited islands for private development, according to Wang Jianhe, director of the islands management office at the provincial ocean and fishery bureau.

The detailed plan of the bidding system has been inspected by the provincial legal affairs office.

Guangdong will choose some islands for a trial run and then the bidding system will gradually be applied across the province.

Thus far, Guangdong has approved applications for the use of two uninhabited islands and issued certificates for the users.