Hong Kong's first astronaut Lai Ka-ying gets leader's blessing for Shenzhou-23 flight

Hong Kong's leader John Lee has sent personal blessings to Lai Ka-ying, the first Hong Kong astronaut, via a video call just before her Shenzhou-23 space flight scheduled for Sunday. Lai, a 43-year-old police superintendent holding a doctorate in computer science, will serve as a payload specialist on the mission, which will dock with China's Tiangong space station. Lee, joined by Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong and Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung, expressed pride in Lai's achievement, stating that her participation reflects the country's recognition of her and trust in Hong Kong. Lai recalled her intense training in Beijing, which she said had "finally come to an end," and expressed confidence in completing her mission. This marks a significant milestone for Hong Kong as its first local astronaut takes part in a national crewed space flight.

The mission, Shenzhou-23, is set to launch from China's spaceport and dock with the Tiangong space station, where Lai will conduct experiments and operations. Lai's background in computer science and police service underscores the diverse expertise brought to China's space program. The video call footage, released by Lee's office, highlighted the city's collective support for Lai, with the chief executive recalling their last meeting in 2024 before she departed for Beijing. This event underscores Hong Kong's growing role in national space exploration and symbolizes the integration of the city's talent into China's ambitious space agenda.