Hong Kong awaits day it will contribute payload specialist to Chinese space missions, city’s John Lee says ahead of astronauts’ arrival

Hongkongers are eagerly awaiting the day that a local payload specialist can play a part in China’s space exploration efforts, the city’s leader has said, welcoming the coming arrival of the country’s astronauts on a packed four-day tour.

Speaking ahead of his weekly Executive Council meeting, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the astronauts’ visit to the city 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.”

The delegation, which is helmed by China Manned Space Agency deputy director Lin Xiqiang, includes astronauts Liu Boming, Wang Yaping, Chen Dong and Zhang Lu, who respectively took part in the Shenzhou-12, 13, 14 and 15 space flights.

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

The group are expected to arrive in Hong Kong by Tuesday noon and attend a media briefing at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to discuss the latest developments at the China Manned Space Program.

Lee said the group’s four-day itinerary included an appearance at the Hong Kong Coliseum, with about 5,000 free tickets to be distributed by the Home Affairs Department from 1pm that day on a first-come, first-served basis.

The astronauts will also speak at the opening ceremony for 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.

Liu Boming is among the Chinese astronauts visiting Hong Kong as part of a four-day trip. Photo: Xinhua

“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 through … and share the developments history and latest efforts by the country’s aerospace industry.”

The city’s leader also said the visit showed the nation valued the local science and technology sector, adding that 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.”

Beijing announced in October last year that it was recruiting two payload specialists from Hong Kong and Macau, marking the first time the China Manned Space 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.

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

Chinese astronauts last came to Hong Kong more than a decade ago. Three crew members who had been on the Shenzhou-9 spaceship mission in June 2012 visited the city for four days that August.