The Shenzhou
VI Manned Space Mission delegation was warmly greeted by some
40,000 Hong Kong citizens with national flags and flags of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Hong Kong Stadium on
Sunday afternoon.
The 30-strong delegation, including astronauts Fei
Junlong and Nie
Haisheng and leading engineers of the space mission, had
arrived in Hong Kong earlier in the day at the invitation of Hong
Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang.
The Variety Show for Welcoming the Delegation of Shenzhou VI
Manned Space Mission, China's second manned space mission, began at
about 3:10 PM (0710 GMT).
When Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng traveled around the stadium by
a battery vehicle, Hong Kong citizens at the stadium all stood up
in respect with flags and small balloons in hands.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang said at the beginning of the show
that Hong Kong was honored to welcome the delegation and he
expressed respect for the national heroes on behalf of the HKSAR
government and all Hong Kong citizens.
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He said the successful launching of the Shenzhou VI manned
spacecraft advanced China's space dreams.
Hu Shixiang, deputy chief commander of China's manned space
flight project, expressed his thanks for the warm welcome showed by
Hong Kong compatriots and conveyed greetings from President Hu
Jintao, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao.
He said the gathering of over 40,000 Hong Kong compatriots at
the variety show to celebrate the successful launching of the
Shenzhou VI manned spacecraft showed Hong Kong compatriots' concern
for the space undertaking of the motherland.
Hu, on behalf of all personnel engaged in China's space
industry, wished Hong Kong a more beautiful tomorrow and a more
powerful and prosperous motherland.
Hong Kong popular stars as Joey Yung, Leo Ku Kai Kei and Lisa
Wong performed at the show. Dragon and lion dances were also
staged.
A special part of show was a dialogue between the two astronauts
and six primary school students.
Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng first thanked the HKSAR government
and Hong Kong citizens for their warm welcome.
Fei said he was honored for having been selected to represent
the nation in space.
Nie said the most memorable moments of the mission for him were
receiving greetings from the Chinese people, including Hong Kong
people. They were the strongest driving force for completing the
mission.
Four Hong Kong students presented their paintings to the
delegation. They were paintings of flying dragons representing the
nation and China's planned future missions to the moon.
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(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2005)
