HAIKOU: More than 6,000 people will be relocated from the island province of Hainan to make way for a new space launch center, officials have said.

Yan Zheng, mayor of Wenchang, said at a meeting yesterday that 1,200 hectares will be needed for the project.

The city's Party chief Xie Mingzhong promised all issues concerning those to be resettled, such as employment, medical care and education, will be properly handled.