Hong Kong excited about its first astronaut going to space

2026-05-24 17:29 Last Updated At：05-26 12:10

Lai Ka-ying, the first astronaut from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and a crew member of the Shenzhou-23 manned flight mission, has generated major excitement in the city.

Even before the official announcement of the astronauts going to space on the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, one small detail had already fueled widespread speculation, the mission badge featuring the bauhinia flower, a symbol of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee congratulated Lai on becoming a member of the country's fourth batch of astronauts Saturday, after the launch schedule was announced.

"I sincerely thank the country for its trust in Hong Kong SAR, and for its recognition and support of the city's innovation and technology community. I wish the Shenzhou-23 mission every success, as it continues to write a new chapter in China's space achievements," Lee said.

Lai will act as a payload specialist in the Shenzhou-23 mission. Before being selected, she worked in the Hong Kong Police Force. People back home are also hoping to see her operating the Multi Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory (MUSICO), a piece of equipment designed in the city and already sent to the space station via the Tianzhou-10 cargo ship.

"I hope our homegrown Hong Kong taikonaut can operate this locally-led scientific payload, and leverage collected data to support China's dual-carbon goals and tackle climate change. We also expect her to capture precise imagery of the Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area via our special camera," said Su Hui, leader of the MUSICO project.

Lai's journey into space is also encouraging more international researchers to base their space-related research efforts in Hong Kong.

"It's fantastic. And I think that's correct. It's the right decision, the right direction of travel - having a mixed diversity. I fundamentally believe that Hong Kong can act as a global space sustainability hub for China. Based in Hong Kong, under One Country, Two Systems give it some very strong and unique advantages," said Quentin Parker, director of the Lab for Space Research at the University of Hong Kong.

Foreign officials, scholars highlight importance of 2026 World AI Conference

The 2026 World AI Conference, which kicked off on Friday in Shanghai, has received widespread global attention, cementing its status as a premier platform for shaping the future of artificial intelligence governance.

As nations grapple with balancing innovation and regulation, the Shanghai gathering has become an increasingly vital venue for fostering international cooperation on AI policy.

Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank, praised China's role in shaping global AI governance.

"China acts as a pragmatic standard-setter, a capacity-builder and a partner on safety-shaping, interoperable governance that seeks to preserve innovation while managing systemic risks," she said.

Jeffrey Sachs, Professor of Economics at Columbia University and a former high-level UN advisor, highlighted the conference's growing significance on the world stage.

"This gathering in Shanghai, which has been going on for several years on an annual basis, is growing in global importance because of this broadening partnership of China and the emerging economies," he said.

Themed "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future," the 2026 World AI Conference features more than 140 forums and brings together 1,400 guests from home and abroad. It spans six sections: Conferences and Forums, Exhibitions and Showcases, Awards and Competitions, Application Experiences, Innovation Incubation, and Talent Attraction.