Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung said Friday that Hong Kong people shared the joy of the nation's remarkable achievements in its manned space mission, which has made all Chinese people proud. At the welcoming dinner for the 40-member space delegation, Leung said the 13-day Tiangong-1/Shenzhou-9 space mission was the longest in China's aerospace history, and the crew succeeded in the first manual space docking between airship and space laboratory.

He said that Hong Kong has contributed to, and can further participate in the development of the country's aerospace technology. He encouraged Hong Kong's young scientists to work hard and contribute to the advancement of Hong Kong and the nation.

Leung thanked the space delegation for visiting Hong Kong, and presented them with a photo book souvenir. He received a model of Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-9 in return.

About 300 guests attended the dinner, including city government officials, representatives of Central Government organizations in Hong Kong and district dignitaries.

At the dinner, a short documentary on the Shenzhou-9 manned space mission was screened for guests to recap the valiant performance of the astronauts.

The space delegation, featuring three astronauts who had fulfilled China's first manned space docking mission this June, arrived in Hong Kong on Friday morning to start a 4-day visit.

The three astronauts are Liu Yang, China's first woman astronaut, and veteran astronaut Jing Haipeng and crewmate Liu Wang.

The delegation will share with primary and secondary students their experiences in space on Saturday morning.

Chinese astronauts share feelings with Hong Kong media
Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang and Liu Yang who accomplished a historic space docking in June shared their feelings with local media Friday during a four- day visit to Hong Kong, expressing gratitude to Hong Kong residents for their care and support.

In China's latest space mission in June, the three astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft successfully docked with the country's Tiangong-1 space lab. It is also the first mission that takes China's first female astronaut Liu Yang into orbit.

Jing Haipeng, commander of the crew, said at the meeting with Hong Kong media that this is the third time he has visited the city, and every time he can feel the local people's care and support.

He said that during the June mission he cried on several occasions - when Shenzhou-9 was launched, when President Hu Jintao talked to the crew from Beijing and when he stepped off the capsule after it landed on earth.

Liu Wang said she flew over Hong Kong several times while in space and had wished to visit the city in person.

The first Chinese woman in space said she is honored to represent millions of women in carrying out the space mission, and she treasures the life and experience in space.

Liu said other women can also complete space missions and expects them to play an important role in China's space exploration.

Niu Hongguang, deputy chief commander of China's Manned Space Engineering Project, led a delegation of more than 40 persons, including the three astronauts, to visit Hong Kong. He said the main purpose of the trip is to share the latest achievements of China's manned space program with the Hong Kong people as well as the excitement and joy for the successful space mission.

The delegation will feel the charm of Hong Kong and communicate with the local citizens, he said.

Source: Xinhua News Agency