The China Manned Space delegation this morning (November 29) attended dialogue sessions in groups with secondary and primary students organised by the Education Bureau at Pui Kiu Middle School, Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School (Hung Hom Bay), and Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School respectively.
 
     Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Ms Lu Xinning; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; and the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Michelle Li, also attended the events.
 
     Addressing the session at Pui Kiu Middle School, Dr Choi expressed her warm welcome and respect to the delegation, and her gratitude to the Central People's Government for the arrangements. She said that the country's aerospace development is advancing rapidly, and it has made historic and exciting breakthroughs one after another in recent years. The country has now embarked on a moon landing mission of the manned lunar exploration programme, with the goal of landing Chinese on the moon for the first time by 2030 to carry out lunar scientific investigations and related technological experiments, and deepening humanity's understanding of the origin and evolution of the moon and the solar system. These would not only represent glorious achievements of Chinese people, but also provide significant contributions to the global development of aerospace technologies.
 
     Speaking at the session at Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School, Ms Li said that the delegation's visit demonstrated the great importance and care that the country attaches to Hong Kong's young people. In recent years, the country's aerospace technologies have entered a fast lane of innovative development, making contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind in space. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has also stepped up the promotion of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) education through the introduction of the Science subject in primary schools enhanced with space science knowledge, dovetailing with the nations's strategy of "invigorating the country through science and education" to nurture innovation and technology talent. Ms Li also encouraged Hong Kong students to establish a foothold in Hong Kong, have the motherland at heart, set a global vision, gaze up at the sky and pursue their dreams bravely to contribute to the country, Hong Kong and human civilisation in the future.
 
     During the events, members of the delegation interacted with more than 550 students from 20 primary schools and more than 690 students from 21 secondary schools respectively. They talked about the national developments and achievements in aerospace technologies as well as their lives and valuable experiences in space.
 
     Students proactively raised questions, covering subjects such as the outlook of future space exploration, the possibility for humans to live in space and the application and development of artificial intelligence in the area of aerospace. The delegation members answered them all in detail.

Ends/Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Issued at HKT 15:15

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