GUANGZHOU, Feb. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Local customs in south China's Guangdong province reported a sharp rise in the imports of foreigncigarettes in January as the government canceled the decades-old special license for the sale of imported cigarettes beginning on New Year's Day.

    The abrogation of the special license has made it possible for more than 4 million domestic cigarette retailers to sell both Chinese and overseas brands. In the past, only those who had special licenses were allowed to do so.

    In the first month, Guangdong imported 15.93 million foreign cigarettes, worth 280,000 US dollars, 3.4 times and two times morethan the figures of last January, according to a customs report.

    The report highlighted the import of cigarettes from the Republic of Korea (ROK). In January, 7.93 million ROK-made cigarettes were imported in January, while it had a zero-report during the same month of 2003.

    China's cigarette industry is still under state monopoly, and the country's cigarette market has yet to open to overseas investors and retailers. Nevertheless, a complete opening-up of the Chinese cigarette market has entered its countdown and foreigncigarette giants are eager to enter this world's largest market. Enditem