The vice commander of China's second manned spacecraft announced on Monday that people in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao as well as overseas Chinese can apply before the end of May to have objects with special meaning put on board Shenzhou VI when it blasts off in September.

Hu Shixiang said the only application from overseas so far has been from Chinese American Hua Junxiong, who wants to include a small stone in the historic flight.

Hu said people can apply for goods of limited weight to be put on the spaceship, and that many from Hong Kong had expressed an interest, though no formal applications have as yet been received from the special administrative region.

The final decision on which ideas will be taken up will be made after receiving all applications, and Hu recommended objects of special political significance.

He added that women from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao would also be able to take part in the selection of women astronauts for Shenzhou VII, the process for which will start at the end of 2005. He stressed that a military background is not required, though obviously physical fitness is a must.

Hu pressed the launch button for China's first artificial satellite Dongfanghong 1 thirty-five years ago and has taken part in over 100 launches since then.

(Beijing Evening News, translated by Wang Qian for China.org.cn, April 28, 2005)