A Hong Kong businessman on Friday donated 330 million yuan (41.25 million U.S. dollars) to fund a training program for farmers and rural doctors on the Chinese mainland.

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu attended the launch of the program in Beijing.

Lee Shau Kee, chairman of Hong Kong-based Henderson Land Development Company Limited, expressed his willingness to contribute to the development of the mainland.

Part of the "Warmth Project" launched by the government in 1995to boost employment and re-employment, the program Lee funded is jointly conducted by the United Front Department of the CPC Central Committee and the ministries of education, construction, agriculture, health, and labor and social security.

About one million rural residents in central and western regions will be helped by the program in learning skills and finding jobs. The program will also train 10,000 rural doctors in those regions.

Hui said building a socialist new countryside needed "new" farmers, who had knowledge and techniques and business expertise. He hoped the program would help raise the quality and competence of farmers.

He also urged stricter management of the training and warned of the misuse or corruption of the fund.

Editor: Donald