HAIKOU, Feb. 13 -- Liu Cigui was elected governor of China's southernmost island province of Hainan on Friday at the annual session of the provincial legislature.

Last month, Liu was relieved of his position as director of the State Oceanic Administration and political commissar of the China Coast Guard. He was appointed deputy and acting governor of Hainan.

Liu, 59, is a native of Quanzhou in China's southeastern Fujian Province.