Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Saturday congratulated Lai Ka-ying – the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s first astronaut chosen to join the nation’s Shenzhou XXIII manned spaceflight mission – saying her selection reflects the central government’s support for and trust in the SAR.
The China Manned Space Agency announced on Saturday the crew of the Shenzhou XXIII mission – commander and spaceflight engineer Zhu Yangzhu, spacecraft pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and science payload specialist Lai.
The astronauts are due to board the Shenzhou XXIII spacecraft and be lifted into space from Jiuquan spaceport, Gansu province, at 11:08 pm on Sunday. Their destination is the Chinese space station Tiangong which is orbiting the Earth at an altitude of about 400 kilometers.
Lai will be the fourth Chinese woman to go into orbit and also the first female civilian astronaut. She had served in the HKSAR’s Police Force before being selected as a national astronaut, and having joined the national aerospace force in August 2024, completing more than 200 training tasks totaling more than 1,700 hours.
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In a statement, Lee said Hong Kong is “embracing a historic moment in the pursuit of its aerospace dream”.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to the country for providing the HKSAR’s technology talent with this valuable opportunity to take part in the aerospace endeavors of the country.”
He noted the SAR has been actively contributing to national aerospace development through its research institutions, universities and the SAR government’s Space Robotics and Energy Center under the InnoHK Research Clusters.
“The participation of a scientific researcher from Hong Kong in the spaceflight mission for the first time is not only an affirmation of her own capability, but also a testimony to the country’s high recognition of Hong Kong’s I&T talent, development and achievements,” Lee said.
“I warmly congratulate Lai and sincerely wish her every success in the spaceflight mission.”
In a government statement, Lai said she’s grateful to the nation and the HKSAR government for their support and vowed to live up to their expectations. She hopes her mission would inspire more Hong Kong youths to pursue innovation and technology, contributing to the country’s technological self-reliance.
As a payload specialist – a non-career astronaut role focused on scientific research and experimentation – Lai may need to conduct astronomical and Earth observations, physical, chemical, biomedical, and technology tests, operate space laboratory equipment, and assist with station management duties.
A China Manned Space Agency spokesman said Lai and her crewmates are in excellent condition and have developed strong operational synergy.
Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com