************************************************************
The delegation of the Tiangong-1/Shenzhou-9 manned space docking and rendezvous mission will arrive in Hong Kong on August 10 (Friday) for a four-day visit at the invitation of Chief Executive Mr C Y Leung.
The delegation of some 40 members will comprise leader Mr Niu Hongguang, astronauts Mr Jing Haipeng, Mr Liu Wang and Ms Liu Yang, as well as key commanders and designers of the manned space programme.
The Chief Executive said he warmly welcomed the delegation and was grateful to the Central People's Government for the arrangements.
He said, "The accomplishment of the Shenzhou-9 mission has opened a new chapter in our country's aerospace history. The crew succeeded in the first manual space docking between airship and space laboratory, had the first female astronaut in a space mission and set records in astronauts working and staying in a space lab module, marking a significant step in Chinese space exploration. Through the delegation's visit, Hong Kong people share the joy of China's remarkable achievements in its manned space missions. The astronauts' perseverance also serves as an encouragement for Hong Kong people."
Upon its arrival on August 10, the delegation will meet the media in the afternoon and attend a welcome dinner hosted by the SAR Government at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to meet people from various sectors of the community.
On the second day of its visit (August 11), the delegation will attend a dialogue session with local secondary and primary students at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to share their experiences of their 13-day orbit in space.
In the afternoon, they will attend the "Hong Kong Welcomes the Delegation of Shenzhou-9 Manned Spaceflight Mission Variety Show" at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre together with around 2,000 spectators. Free tickets will be available for distribution to members of the public at four Public Enquiry Service Centres under the Home Affairs Department from 9am on August 8. The tickets will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis and each person may obtain a maximum of two tickets. The variety show will be broadcast live at 4pm on August 11 on TVB Jade. Highlights will be broadcast at 11pm on the same day on TVB HD Jade and on the website (www.tvb.com) from August 12 to September 9.
The four Public Enquiry Service Centres are located at:
* Hong Kong Island (G/F, 2 O'Brien Road, Wan Chai);
* Kowloon (G/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Sham Shui Po);
* New Territories East (G/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin); and
* New Territories West (1/F, Tsuen Wan Multi-storey Carpark Building, 174-208 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan).
On the third day (August 12), the delegation will tour Hong Kong in the morning and will open the "Exhibition on China's First Manned Space Docking Mission" at the Hong Kong Science Museum. Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the exhibition will be free to the public. Details will be announced in due course.
In the afternoon, the delegation will meet tertiary students at a dialogue session at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on the space technology of Shenzhou-9 and China's aerospace science development, and exchange views with the students.
On the fourth day (August 13), the delegation will attend a tea gathering at 9.30am with the women's sector, during which China's first female astronaut, Ms Liu Yang, and the other two astronauts will interact with attendees and share their experiences. The programme will be broadcast live on the Putonghua Channel and website (www.rthk.hk) of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), with highlights recapped on RTHK Channel 1.
After the tea gathering, the delegation will tour Victoria Harbour and learn about the latest harbourfront developments.
Finally, the delegation will attend a farewell ceremony at Government House before leaving for Macau at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan, concluding their four-day visit to the territory.
For details of the delegation's visit programme, please visit the webpage (www.hksar15.gov.hk/shenzhou9).
Ends/Friday, August 3, 2012
Issued at HKT 10:31
NNNN