At least 2 Hong Kong candidates in final round of China’s astronaut selection drive, city’s technology minister reveals
Technology secretary Sun Dong says elite few in third round of China Manned Space Agency recruitment comprise both local men and womenDetails released mark latest development in unprecedented move by Beijing to recruit payload specialists from Hong Kong and Macau for space programmeHong Kong economyElizabeth CheungPublished: 1:58pm, 20 Sep, 2023Why you can trust SCMP
Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong gave updates on the country’s fourth intake of astronauts, saying: “There are candidates from Hong Kong progressing to the third selection stage, both men and women.”
State representatives would visit the city next month to further evaluate the candidates, he added.
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The elite few currently still in the selection pool were among a local batch recommended for the national programme as payload specialists. The position requires a strong background in science or engineering, and involves overseeing highly complex or classified on-board equipment and tasks such as taking astronautical measurements.