CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Friday, June 25, 2021 | 5 HONG KONG National scientists’ HK visit well-received Aerospace experts get enthusiastic greeting from young space fans during their lectures By LI BINGCUN, KATHY ZHANG, as a result of public seminars deliv- CHEN ZIMO and CHEN SHUMAN ered by leading experts. in Hong Kong Teng Jinguang, PolyU president, said such lectures o ered precious National aerospace scientists opportunities for its teachers and were greeted with growing enthu- students to understand China’s siasm and passion by the Hong aerospace achievements. Kong community — especially The growing communication young space fans eager to have between mainland and Hong Kong closer contact with the top brains experts during the activities also — as their public tour of the city promoted understanding. entered its second day. Hu Hao, chief designer of Chi- As part of the science delega- na’s third-phase lunar exploration tion’s fi ve-day visit to Hong Kong, program, said he learned of the two lectures for students and an University of Hong Kong’s great exchange activity between scholars potential in the aerospace field, were held on Thursday at Hong such as its strength in remote-sens- Kong Polytechnic University and ing and talent cultivation, during the University of Hong Kong. the exchange activity. During the lecture at PolyU, Noting that cross-border Xie Jun, deputy chief designer of exchange in the aerospace field the BeiDou Navigation Satellite has room for improvement, Hu System, and Zhang He, executive said the visit will help the two sides director of the Chang’e 4 lunar increase mutual understanding.. probe project, shared the advanced From left: The University of Hong Kong Provost Richard Wong Yue-Chim; Wang Yajun, from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp; technologies applied in the satel- Contact the writers at and Zhao Xiaojin, vice-president of the China Academy of Space Technology, pose for a group photo in an activity titled “The Space Programme lite program and also the nation’s [email protected] Scientists Enter Campus Cum Distinguished Chinese Scientists Public Lecture Series”. EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY future plans for lunar exploration. In another lecture, Long Lehao, chief designer of the Long March Zhang He, rocket series, and Sun Zezhou, executive chief designer of the Tianwen 1 director of the Chang’e 4 lunar Mars probe, spoke about the probe project, HK-mainland space cooperation nation’s achievements in exploring shares her Mars and outer space, as well as experiences their personal experiences pursu- during a can help realize city’s potential ing scientifi c dreams. lecture at the During the exchange session in Hong Kong the afternoon, Xie, Zhang, Sun and Polytechnic fi ve young scholars from the Chi- University By KATHY ZHANG, GU space projects, and there’s room equipment,” he said. nese mainland exchanged views on Thursday. MENGYAN, CHEN SHUMAN and for closer and deeper collabora- In his view, this exchange visit and feelings with 23 PolyU teachers EDMOND TANG / LI BINGCUN in Hong Kong tion, Zhao said. is an opportunity for both sides and students. CHINA DAILY More important projects are to improve mutual understand- During another event, Zhao Aerospace collaboration being planned and scientists and ing and Hong Kong universities Xiaojin, vice-president of the Chi- Long Lehao, an between Hong Kong and the young people from Hong Kong and research institutions are also na Academy of Space Technology, academician Chinese mainland is set to reach are needed to join the nation’s able to get the latest information a world-class spacecraft designer of the Chinese new heights, with a regular cross- mission to become a space power, about the country’s development Academy of and manufacturer, said the warm border exchange mechanism on he said. and needs. Engineering welcome received in Hong Kong Xie Jun, deputy chief designer and a chief the cards, according to the leader Hu Hao, chief designer of the was beyond the delegation’s expec- designer of of a national team of top space third phase of China’s lunar of China’s BeiDou Navigation Sat- tations. the Long engineers and designers now on exploration project, agreed that ellite System, said given the SAR’s After Long ended the lecture and March rockets, a fi ve-day visit to the SAR. collaboration between Hong lower latitude, the city has a geo- stepped off the podium, he was delivers a Zhao Xiaojin, who’s heading Kong and the mainland in aero- graphical advantage in conduct- quickly surrounded by students speech at the the delegation, said the country’s space projects should be stepped ing satellite research as satellite eager to talk with him. The enthu- University of space institutions will establish up. positioning systems work better siastic fans queued up to shake his Hong Kong a mechanism to maintain regu- The Hong Kong Polytechnic in lower latitudes regions. hand, ask for his autograph and on Thursday. lar exchanges with Hong Kong University has contributed to Noting that Hong Kong has take photos with him. PROVIDED TO CHINA universities. several of the nation’s lunar and many ideal locations to con- Cornelius Leung, a 21-year-old DAILY Zhao, vice-president of the Mars exploration programs in the duct related experiments and aviation engineering student at State-owned satellite and rocket past few years. research, Xie suggested that PolyU, said he decided to attend the Primary school maker, the China Academy of He said such cooperation has PolyU scientists carry out more students show lecture to learn about the engineer- Space Technology, said Hong demonstrated Hong Kong’s abil- research on the application of booklets on ing technologies behind aerospace Kong students are welcome to ity and strength in scientific satellite navigation in cities. the Chinese Qi Faren, fi rst chief designer exploration to enhance his pro- aerospace take up internships or work at research, and the city is capable fessional knowledge. But, in the industry at national space institutions. of participating in the nation’s of China’s Shenzhou spaceship, end, he was more impressed by the a lecture by He said six of his team’s mem- key science and technology proj- said Hong Kong should further spirit and beliefs that supported Zhang He, bers had studied at Hong Kong ects. integrate into the nation’s science the scientists in overcoming hard- executive universities before returning to Hu, who gave a lecture at the and technology development. ships in their quests. director of the mainland. They shared their University of Hong Kong on He urged the city’s relevant Wu Bo, a professor at PolyU who the Chang’e experiences in working on the Wednesday, said HKU has cer- sectors to learn from the world’s led a team in the nation’s Mars 4 lunar probe mainland during a closed-door tain competitiveness in remote scientifi c and technological fron- project, also attended the lecture project, at the meeting with sta members of sensing, a strength in aerospace tiers, meet the country’s major at his university. Noting an instant Hong Kong the Hong Kong Polytechnic Uni- research. development needs and focus on increase in students’ inquiries Polytechnic versity on Thursday afternoon. “We certainly hope to work the people’s health. about outer space projects, Wu University Hong Kong scientists have with competitive and strong said he was very happy to see their on Thursday. been working with mainland sci- institutions to research and Contact the writers at growing interest in space research EDMOND TANG / entists on many national aero- design aerospace facilities and [email protected] CHINA DAILY Chinese science and technology grows by leaps and bounds round 25 years ago, I recall read- openly wary about allowing any Chinese Mars. On May 15 this year, the lander- ily for local purchase). This comprised ing expert media commentary participation. In 2011, the US Congress rover portion of this project successfully over 32 percent of the total number of that China may be able to build passed a law vetoing US cooperation with set down on the surface of Mars, after the motor vehicles produced worldwide. refrigerators — or even television the Chinese National Space Agency. China transit to Mars from Earth and a series Moreover, China is today both the larg- Asets; but it would never be able to build has not, consequently, been invited to send of reconnaissance orbits. On May 22, the est producer and consumer of electric motor vehicles that would sell widely. The any nationals to visit the ISS. Zhurong rover drove from the lander onto vehicles. It makes more than 50 percent reasoning was that the manufacturing Richard Cullen Never mind: In late April this year, Chi- the Martian surface and dropped a camera of all EVs sold in the world and the bulk logistics required to bring so many diverse The author is a visiting professor in the na launched the initial (Tianhe) module of able to photograph both the lander and of electric buses made globally. China also components together into a single product Faculty of Law, the University of Hong its own, fi rst-ever comprehensive manned the rover. China became only the second dominates the global market for the sup- was not something China could manage. Kong. space station. The Tiangong Space Station nation, after the US, to land an operational ply of EV batteries. Chinese motor vehicles would remain will be less than 25 percent of the mass (or rover on Mars — and on its fi rst attempt. We have recently been told that if rough and ready at best, rather like those Japan, the European Union and Canada.