Hong Kong efforts in China’s aerospace development widening, says top space agency official as astronaut delegation lands in city
- Four-day visit marks the first time in more than a decade that Chinese astronauts have toured Hong Kong
- China Manned Space Agency deputy director Lin Xiqiang says scope of Hong Kong and Macau’s participation in national aerospace development has broadened
China’s space agency hopes an astronaut from Hong Kong will join its ranks in future, a top official has said, adding that the city’s participation in national aerospace development has been broadening.
China Manned Space Agency deputy director Lin Xiqiang, head of a 17-strong delegation that arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday, said the team hoped to brief residents on the nation’s latest projects during the four-day visit.
The group also wanted to share the joy of completing the construction of China’s Tiangong space station and encourage more participation from the city and Macau in national programmes.
The trip marks the first time in more than a decade that Chinese astronauts have visited Hong Kong. Three crew members who had been on the Shenzhou-9 mission in June 2012 spent four days in the city that August.
“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.