BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) — Sunday’s profitable launch of China’s Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft marked a historic milestone for the Hong Kong and Macao particular administrative areas (SARs), as astronaut Li Jiaying turned the primary individual from the SARs to journey to outer space and the fourth Chinese lady to take action.
News of payload specialist Li, who beforehand labored for the Hong Kong Police Force and is understood in Cantonese as Lai Ka-ying, has been broadly celebrated in Hong Kong and neighboring Macao, with many locals expressing immense delight.
From the police power to the space, Li’s profession trajectory stands as compelling proof that younger folks in Hong Kong and Macao are absolutely able to realizing their potential by shining on the nation’s cutting-edge scientific and technological phases.
Li, a local of Hong Kong, honed her perseverance and a spotlight to element throughout her time with the police power. After the nation’s astronaut recruitment was open to Hong Kong and Macao for the primary time, she seized the possibility.
After rigorous alternatives, she joined the nationwide astronaut crew in Beijing, the place she acquired high-intensity coaching, passing all evaluations. Holding a doctoral diploma in pc forensics, Li is answerable for conducting scientific experiments and utilized analysis aboard the space station.
Her achievement displays the central authorities’ help for Hong Kong and Macao, in addition to recognition of the sci-tech achievements made there. Li’s story is a testomony to the profitable apply of “one country, two systems.”
The space mission unveils a brand new chapter for sci-tech innovation in Hong Kong and Macao, as it’s anticipated to spice up confidence and stimulate additional technological endeavors within the two areas.
Over the years, the 2 SARs have been concerned in main nationwide space endeavors, together with deep-space exploration and the development of China’s space station. Cooperation with the mainland in aerospace analysis, exchanges and science schooling has grown more and more shut.
Research groups from Hong Kong have made sustained contributions to main nationwide space initiatives, together with the Chang’e lunar exploration program, the Mars mission and lunar pattern return missions, offering cutting-edge applied sciences.
“Macao Science 1,” the primary space science satellite tv for pc program collectively developed by the mainland and Macao, was efficiently launched in 2023, opening up new areas for cooperation between the 2 sides within the aerospace sector.
As HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee stated following the launch of Shenzhou-23, with the robust help of the nation, Hong Kong can remodel from a “supporter” into an “executor” of the nation’s nice aerospace endeavors.
The space program can be an vital foothold for Hong Kong and Macao to higher combine into total nationwide growth.
In current years, state key laboratories within the two SARs have docked with main nationwide science applications akin to aerospace and deep-space exploration, integrating analysis assets, experimental information and personnel coaching.
Delegations of China’s manned space program have paid a number of visits to Hong Kong and Macao, the place astronauts shared their tales nose to nose with younger folks, and specialists gave lectures and took half in educational exchanges.
Taking this as a powerful enhance, Hong Kong and Macao will certainly additional deepen sci-tech coordination and collaboration with the mainland, leverage the strengths in sci-tech innovation assets of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and proceed to contribute to China’s space efforts via common participation in national-level space applications and systematic cultivation of expertise.
Li’s participation is certain to encourage extra younger folks within the two SARs to pursue a profession in science. As she famous, “While the space station may seem remote, the dream of space is within reach.” ■