Hong Kong's First Astronaut Launches; Chief Executive Offers Congratulations

Lai Ka-ying, Hong Kong's first astronaut, successfully launched into space last night aboard China's Shenzhou-23 manned spacecraft and has since safely entered the 'Tiangong' space station. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee paid tribute to Lai and the other two astronauts, offering his congratulations. Lee stated, 'This mission is highly significant; it is the first manned flight mission during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and the first time a payload specialist from the Hong Kong SAR has participated. All Hong Kong citizens feel excited and proud.' He added that the Hong Kong government will seize this historic moment to further enhance science education, showcase the nation's brilliant achievements in aerospace technology, and highlight Hong Kong's unique contribution, thereby inspiring young people to pursue careers in innovation and technology. Shenzhou-23 launched at 11:09 PM last night. Born in Hong Kong in 1982, Lai holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Hong Kong and previously served as a Superintendent in the Hong Kong Police Force, specializing in IT and computer security. In 2022, she was selected from 120 candidates to become a payload specialist.