First astronaut from Hong Kong to embark on China's spaceflight mission

This undated photo shows Shenzhou-23 crew member Lai Ka-ying. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li Jiaying, or Lai Ka-ying in Cantonese, the first astronaut from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, has been selected as a payload specialist for the Shenzhou-23 spaceflight mission, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Saturday.

Li passed the flight qualification assessment with outstanding results. "She is currently in good overall condition and demonstrates strong crew coordination," Zhang Jingbo, the CMSA spokesperson, told a press conference.

Under the framework of "one country, two systems," Hong Kong can give full play to its international advantages, further gather and cultivate high-end scientific and technological talents, and contribute to the advancement of China's manned space program, said Zhang.

The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:08 p.m. Sunday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, according to the agency.