The China Manned Space Agency unveiled the three-member crew for the Shenzhou-XXIII manned space flight on May 23, including Lai Ka-ying — a payload specialist from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region who will be the city’s first astronaut.
I warmly congratulate Lai and offer our sincere gratitude to the central government for its continued trust in and support for the SAR’s innovation community. I also wish the Shenzhou XXIII mission every success in what will be a milestone in China’s space endeavors, as well as a defining chapter in Hong Kong’s contributions to the nation’s science and technology prowess.
Lai, who is of Han ethnicity, with her ancestral roots in Shunde, Guangdong province, was born in Hong Kong in 1982. She entered public service in September 2006 and currently serves as a superintendent in the Hong Kong Police Force. Chosen in June 2024 as a payload specialist in China’s fourth cohort of astronauts, Lai has now been assigned to the Shenzhou XXIII crew following comprehensive evaluation. Her selection reflects both her professional excellence and the nation’s confidence in the HKSAR’s innovation talent and institutional strengths.
China’s space journey has spanned more than two decades of remarkable achievements — from its first crewed mission in 2003 to successive Shenzhou missions, the construction and stable operation of the Tiangong space station, the Chang’e lunar exploration program, the Tianwen Mars mission, and the completion of the Beidou global navigation satellite system. The program has progressed from foundational breakthroughs to more systematic capabilities that deliver scientific returns, industrial spillovers and public benefits.
The Shenzhou XXIII mission will further advance the application phase of the space station, deepen in-orbit scientific experiments, and open new opportunities in materials science, life sciences, space robotics and energy management under microgravity, making the participation of a Hong Kong specialist both symbolically and practically significant.
Over the years, I have followed launches on site, including visits to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province and, in April this year, to the Wenchang Space Launch Site. Observing the meticulous process from assembly and testing to countdown and liftoff allows one to appreciate the institutional depth, supply-chain capabilities and mission assurance culture underpinning the nation’s space achievements. These experiences reinforce my view that the next stage of development will increasingly focus on applications and commercialization built on strong national infrastructure.
Space represents both national aspirations and practical opportunities, where scientific progress contributes to economic development, public services and global cooperation. Hong Kong brings to this frontier not only its research and financial strengths, but also its international perspectives and connectivity
Under “one country, two systems”, the HKSAR is uniquely positioned with world-class universities, an internationalized research ecosystem, and globally-recognized professional and financial services. Public initiatives, such as InnoHK, including the Hong Kong Space Robotics and Energy Centre, are supporting the city’s participation in national projects and in-orbit science. To translate potential into tangible outcomes, deeper project-based collaboration should be encouraged, particularly with the University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, focusing on areas like space materials and in-orbit manufacturing, energy and thermal management, space robotics and artificial intelligence, life sciences, and remote-sensing analytics and data platforms.
Beyond human spaceflights, civilian satellites are forming an increasingly complete value chain covering platforms, payloads, applications and data services, with strong investment potential driven by expanding demand in urban governance, emergency response, green transition, smart mobility and maritime management. At the same time, supply capabilities in launch, integration and testing continue to improve, while technological spillovers from remote sensing, satellite internet and space robotics are generating broader economic value. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area offers clear advantages by combining manufacturing strength, application scenarios and capital markets, supporting a model of research in Hong Kong, manufacturing in the Greater Bay Area, and wider application across the Chinese mainland and beyond.
Lai’s selection is expected to inspire more young Hong Kong people to pursue careers in science and engineering, and the city should aim to move from participation to contribution by developing original technologies, scalable products and internationally aligned standards that support the nation’s modernization and space development. This requires closer alignment between research and mission needs, stronger integration of finance and technology through cross-border investment and collaboration, and more active talent exchanges among universities, research institutions and enterprises, including participation in national training and research programs.
Space represents both national aspirations and practical opportunities, where scientific progress contributes to economic development, public services and global cooperation. Hong Kong brings to this frontier not only its research and financial strengths, but also its international perspectives and connectivity. With sustained policy support and institutional innovation, the SAR can become an important node in the nation’s space ecosystem, helping to translate ideas into technologies, technologies into missions, and missions into benefits shared by the nation and the world. As Hong Kong applauds the expected successful launch of Shenzhou XXIII, I once again extend my congratulations to Lai and my best wishes for the success of this historic mission.
I am confident this milestone will open a new chapter in which Hong Kong’s contributions to the country’s space endeavors will be continuous, concrete and widely recognized.
The author, a National Committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, is president of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and adviser to the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
