Hong Kong officials called on the community to actively contribute to the nation’s future space endeavors during the launch ceremonies of two aerospace educational initiatives.

The two initiatives are a roving showcase of the country’s aerospace achievements commemorating the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and a Chinese mainland training camp for local secondary school students.

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The exhibition, titled Achievements of National Aerospace Endeavours, will run for seven days at the Hong Kong Science Park’s Atrium Link, before moving to the Hong Kong Productivity Council and Cyberport in August.

Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said that in the face of new challenges, “the Party has identified the imperatives of the age, resolved to press forward on the path of sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening at higher levels, and to steer the country toward high-quality development.”

Sun added that Hong Kong-based research teams have actively engaged in the nation’s key space projects. The city must continue to harness innovation and technology to propel social advancement, improve governance, and better serve the nation’s development strategy, he said.

Cordelia Chung, chairwoman of HKSTP, said the exhibition offers the public a close understanding of the nation’s aerospace trajectory, its seminal technological advances, and its forward-looking vision — helping deepen public knowledge and interest in aerospace science and technology.

The exhibition follows two landmark achievements in Hong Kong’s involvement in the country’s space program. On May 24, payload specialist Lai Ka-ying, the city’s first astronaut, joined the Shenzhou-XXIII mission to the country’s Tiangong space station. During the mission, she installed a cutting-edge greenhouse gas observatory device developed by Hong Kong scientists, the city’s first scientific payload operating at the space station.

Also on Thursday, 30 local secondary school students attended the send-off ceremony for the Young Astronaut Training Camp 2026, an annual aerospace education program, which will run from July 23 to 31.

The students will visit key national space and astronomy sites, experience astronaut-style drills, and interact with astronauts and space scientists. Their itinerary includes Beijing Aerospace City, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, and the Xinglong Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatories.

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Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki said that this year’s selection process was “very competitive”, with around 200 applications received from over 110 schools.

“You have all shown a great passion for space exploration,” he told the participants. “Now that you have this rare opportunity, be sure to seize it and do all you can to broaden your perspectives.”

Chan encouraged the students to make full use of the trip to prepare themselves for future roles, saying that some might represent Hong Kong in national space missions, “truly achieving academic growth and giving back to society what you have learned”.

First held in 2009, the Young Astronaut Training Camp is now in its 15th edition. Over the years, 420 students have taken part in the program.

Contact the writers at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com