world · RTHK

Yang Liwei Praises Hong Kong's First Payload Specialist Lai Jia-ying for Excellent Space Performance

RTHK · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago5 MIN

Summary

China's top astronaut Yang Liwei has praised Hong Kong's first payload specialist Lai Jia-ying for her outstanding performance aboard the space station. Speaking at a press conference in Beijing on Monday, Yang said he received blessings from Lai that morning and her crew is progressing smoothly with their mission. He expressed hope that more young people from Hong Kong, Macau, and beyond will join China's manned space program.

Key Points

Yang Liwei (楊利偉), Deputy Chief Designer of the China Manned Space Program and Special-Class Astronaut, praised Lai Jia-ying (黎家盈) for her excellent performance in space
Yang received greetings from Lai on Monday morning while attending a press conference organized by the State Council Information Office in Beijing
The press conference, themed "Embarking on a New Long March of Space Exploration in the New Era," featured multiple space industry representatives
Lai's crew is working smoothly and completing their tasks very well, according to Yang
Hong Kong universities have directly participated in constructing China's space station, demonstrating extensive mainland-Hong Kong cooperation
Two Pakistani astronauts are currently undergoing training and are expected to fly alongside mainland astronauts on China's space station soon
The manned space program was officially approved on September 21, 1992, with the "Three-Step" development strategy code-named "921"

Why It Matters

Lai's successful mission marks a significant milestone for Hong Kong's participation in national space endeavors, validating years of scientific collaboration between mainland and Hong Kong institutions . Yang's call for more young people from Hong Kong and Macau to join the program signals growing opportunities for regional talent in China's expanding space sector.