Space agency official praises aerospace efforts as astronauts land in Hong Kong

“We clearly feel the scope of Hong Kong and Macau’s participation has broadened, while becoming deeper as well. Hong Kong and Macau elements in national aerospace development, as well as their contributions, are also increasing,” Lin said.

“In the future, we hope to see an astronaut from Hong Kong.”

Lin added that among 20 finalists in the agency’s latest selection round for payload specialists, many candidates were from Hong Kong or Macau.

In September, Hong Kong technology minister Sun Dong revealed that at least two candidates from the city had made it to the final round of the astronaut selection process.

Astronaut Chen Dong, commander of the Shenzhou-14 mission, said the inclusion of Hong Kong and Macau candidates in the aerospace programme would cultivate a passion for scientific development among the youth, which in turn would foster technological advances in the two cities.

“Our space station belongs to the nation, it is open and diverse. There should be Hong Kong and Macau representatives,” Chen said.

Others in the delegation include astronauts Liu Boming, Wang Yaping and Zhang Lu, who respectively took part in the Shenzhou-12, 13 and 15 missions. They will spend four days in Hong Kong and head to Macau on December 1.

Wang was China’s second female astronaut and the first to perform a spacewalk, which she carried out during her mission aboard the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft in 2021. She also gave the country’s first-ever video lecture from space in 2013.

Liu spoke to local students in a chat from the Tiangong space station two years ago during the Shenzhou-12 mission.

Wang said the most rewarding moment in her career was to work with her former students on board a spacecraft, witnessing their aerospace journey progress. She added that she hoped to see Hong Kong and Macau residents among her students soon.

“I want to tell students that dreams are like stars in the universe. They may seem unreachable, but if you work hard, you can definitely touch them,” Wang said.

The delegation attended a welcome banquet at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Tuesday evening, with Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki and Lu Xinning, deputy director of Beijing’s liaison office in the city, also there.

Executive Council convenor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen and the heads of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Polytechnic University, Nancy Ip Yuk-yu and Teng Jin-guang, respectively, were there also.

The astronauts were expected to visit the two universities on Thursday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the astronauts’ visit showed that the nation championed local youth and the innovation and technology sector.

“Through the delegation’s visit, Hongkongers can share the nation’s pride in China’s manned space development from close range and develop a deeper understanding of the country’s developments in aerospace technologies,” he said.

“The visit exemplifies the affection and support the central government has for us.”

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A source earlier said elite police officers would be responsible for security arrangements to protect the astronauts, considered “space heroes” and “national treasures”.

Lee said the group’s itinerary included an appearance at the Hong Kong Coliseum on Wednesday, with about 5,000 free tickets to be distributed by the Home Affairs Department on a first-come, first-served basis.

The astronauts will also speak at the opening ceremony of the Science Museum’s “China Manned Space Exhibition” and later meet local students of all ages and talk to members of the innovation and technology sector.

“The visit reflects how the country values our city’s youth,” Lee said.

“During the delegation’s stay in the city, they will talk to local young people as part of a variety of events … and share the developments history and latest efforts by the country’s aerospace industry.”

He also said the visit showed the nation valued the local science and technology sector, adding he hoped the city might one day contribute an astronaut to China’s space exploration efforts.

“We look forward to seeing the emergence of the first local astronaut in the future,” Lee added. “The country’s aerospace industry is developing rapidly.

“In addition to actively promoting local innovation and technology development, we will also support various institutions to participate in the country’s aerospace projects to ensure we make greater contributions.”

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Beijing announced in October last year that it was recruiting two payload specialists from Hong Kong and Macau, marking the first time the agency was accepting candidates from the two cities for the positions.

The Hong Kong government later shortlisted about 80 people from among more than 100 applications and recommended them to central authorities.

China marked a historic moment last November when the Tiangong space station assumed its final T-shaped structure.

Additional reporting by Jeffie Lam