Hong Kong people from various walks of life expressed their happiness and proud after watching the successful launching of the manned spacecraft Shenzhou VI on Wednesday morning.
All Hong Kong major media, including Radio Television Hong Kong, Television Broadcasts, Asia Television, Hong Kong Cable Television and Phoenix Television, gave live broadcast of the spacecraft launching on Wednesday morning.
Some of Hong Kong schools let their students to watch the process of the spacecraft launching in the morning.
In Heung To Middle School, students went to a big hall of the school to watch of live broadcast with mini national flags their in hands at about 8:30 am, half of hour before the launching operation.
When the space program chief commander declared the successful launch of the spacecraft Shenzhou VI on television, the students clapped their hands or waving national flags in hands with cheers.
Mr. Wong watched the live broadcast of the launching process in front of the big screen at Times Square. He said in an interview with Xinhua that "in comparison with Shenzhou-5, the Shenzhou VI has longer operation period in orbit with one more astronauts. This indicates that the motherland's space technology has advanced. "
Hong Kong Space Museum also invited citizens to watch the spacecraft launching process. It also held a series of activities to introduce the latest development of China's manned space technology, with Shenzhou VI in particular.
Ms. Leung brought her seven-year old daughter to the museum to learn common knowledge of the spacecraft launching. She wished the two astronauts to successfully complete the whole space journey.
Local newspapers also expressed their congratulations to the launching of the spacecraft Shenzhou VI. They said the true base of the Shenzhou VI is the solid economic foundation laid since China's implementation of opening-up drive more than 20 years ago, as well as the innovative science and technology strength.
The newspapers said the new glory of the motherland's space undertaking will greatly enhance the confidence of all Chinese worldwide and add pride to the nation.
More than 50 Hong Kong legislators sent a signed letter to the central authorities to congratulate the successful launching of the spacecraft at a meeting of the Legislative Council on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions is preparing a grand celebration of the Shenhou-6 project on Oct. 17.
(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2005)
