DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL TOWNS IN HUNAN PROVINCE

Since the introduction of the reform and open-door policy in China, the development of small towns in Hunan Province has contributed increasingly to the regional urbanization. In 1998, the number of towns in the province was 1001, with non-agricultural population accounting for more than 45% of the total provincial non-agricultural population. However, due to the shortage of the resource information, many existing problems may cause the delay of further development of these small towns, among which the lack of facilities and of the development plan, and the unidentified local role and non-obvious features as different from each other are of the most concern. We should therefore 1) establish the precedent status of small towns' development in the transformation of rural surplus labor force in Hunan; 2) raise the contributions of small towns in the urbanization of Hunan, 3) carry out surveys of Hunan's small towns; 4) work out scientific plans for small town's development and construction; 5) choose various development patterns for small towns in the light of local conditions, 6) develop distinctive industries which can suit different kinds of towns. Meanwhile, we should strengthen the construction of small towns' eco - environment, strengthen the construction of county towns and key central towns, promote small town's systems innovation and make demonstration engineering of the whole province's small towns construction.