Recently, the new chief executive, Mr John Lee Ka-chiu, held a news conference to announce that the Chinese mainland’s space program will be seeking to recruit mission payload specialists from within the talent pool offered by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for all patriotic young people. He saw the offer as so significant that he held this special press event.
Since then, there has been a major flurry of press stories, radio shows, TV segments and more here in Hong Kong that reinforces all the attention being given to this development. It has been mostly positive, but with some expressing doubt about whether the HKSAR can deliver. I have no such doubts.
I believe this special moment will be remembered as the time Hong Kong finally began to see the wonderful potential and opportunities offered by the burgeoning global space economy that will be worth more than US$1.25 trillion by 2030. Human spaceflight is but the apex of the increasingly complex technology and science-driven space ecosystem that is developing globally with important sociopolitical implications.
This is a firm recruitment opportunity, and the prospects of a Hong Kong-born taikonaut (Chinese astronaut) being launched into space are, in my view, very real.
I think the mainland’s confidence in the potential and capacity of our young scientists and engineers to grab this amazing gift is well-placed, and that we are up to the challenge.
Why? Because of the inherent strength of our world-class education system to capture and nurture our homegrown talents from an early age to be ready for such opportunities. This is coupled with the global reputation, reach and capacity of our top universities to project our talent within and without. Here, our young talents can be properly and expertly nurtured, mentored and developed by some of the very best global scholars and scientists, helping them to achieve their full potential.
I hope this major announcement may lead to a paradigm shift in thinking among the university, business and technology elites in Hong Kong. I hope it will also prove to be the inspiration and incentive for a significant boost to our own science and technology base and turbocharge investment in the appropriate infrastructure and in the associated required talent recruitment and retention. This announcement could not be timelier, given the devastation wrought by COVID-19
It’s worth noting Hong Kong hosts three universities ranking among the top 50 globally, and several more in the top 200. This makes us a real tertiary education superpower for China. This has not gone unnoticed. What we need now is a modest realignment to make STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and degree programs even more attractive. In particular, we need Hong Kong society to recognize the key importance and value of science and technology for the future of the city. This is so that becoming a scientist or engineer is seen as being as important and worthy as becoming a doctor, banker or lawyer in the eyes of both parents (where a shift in the traditional mindset of what constitutes a lucrative, honorable career may be required) and the students themselves. This, I believe is essential for the future health and prosperity of Hong Kong society.
But what can this mean more generally? What are the implications of this unexpected mainland gift?
I actually see this as a game changer for Hong Kong in aerospace and associated technologies as it has the potential to really kick-start investment and interest in the rapidly emerging so-called New Space economy. I saw the glimmerings of movement in this direction with then-chief executive Carry Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s last Policy Address. Here, space science and technologies were mentioned for the first time. This arose, I think, from the positive press stories associated with Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s research and contribution to specialist cameras for the Chang’e moon exploration program and the success of its sample return mission. I hope too that the University of Hong Kong’s very own laboratory for space research may have also played a role after the launch in July 2021 of our “lobster eye” X-ray satellite for pure research. This was in collaboration with our Nanjing University partners. I would also mention the birth of the Hong Kong-based Orion Astropreneur Space Academy, an NGO whose prime mission is to encourage our youth to engage in STEM and the New Space economy via “Astropreneurship”. Even the birth of the Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group, representing our first push into the commercial nano-satellite market, is a harbinger of much more to come. These few things were happening already, but it was hard to get real government attention. Perhaps now this will change for the better.
Indeed, this “apex” offering of a journey to the Chinese space station now provides an exciting new focus. It may be the catalyst for a future high-tech direction for our city. It is but the pinnacle of the broad scientific and business opportunities that the strongly emerging national space program can offer our young people. I hope this major announcement may lead to a paradigm shift in thinking among the university, business and technology elites in Hong Kong. I hope it will also prove to be the inspiration and incentive for a significant boost to our own science and technology base and turbocharge investment in the appropriate infrastructure and in the associated required talent recruitment and retention. This announcement could not be timelier, given the devastation wrought by COVID-19.
That’s why I see this single step as a major event in the creation of a potential new scientific and technological highway for Hong Kong. Furthermore, it is essential this is seen as a step benefiting both men and women. STEM and related disciplines are not the preserve of men. Just look at what Ms Wang Yaping has achieved as the first Chinese woman to recently undertake a spacewalk from the Tiangong Chinese space station. She serves as a fantastic role model for all young women, inspiring many to pursue high-tech and serious science and engineering majors at university and beyond.
The importance given to this opportunity by the HKSAR government is, I hope, indicative of a major shift in thinking about the seriously positive implications of what this opportunity represents. It must not be treated in isolation. It must be used to leverage investment, support and planning for a future Hong Kong fully engaged in the opportunities the New Space economy can offer. We can have a share of the US$1.25 trillion global space market by using opportunities like this as a major catalyst for change. Hong Kong remains a city rich in talent and opportunity — our dynamism, entrepreneurial spirit, leading expertise in investment strategies, fintech prowess and regulatory probity can find a fresh new outlet in supporting the New Space economy. Are we ready for liftoff?
The author is a professor in the Faculty of Science at the University of Hong Kong, the director of its Laboratory for Space Research, and vice-chairman of the Orion Astropreneur Space Academy.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.