Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) is sponsoring over 2,000 primary and secondary school students and teachers to visit the first Hong Kong Base for Aerospace Science Education in the current academic year, as part of SHKP Reading Club’s Read to Dream programme. The visits seek to deepen the young people’s understanding of the country’s achievements in aerospace technology and strengthen their sense of national identity and pride.  

Officiating the kick-off ceremony today were Liu Maozhou, the First-level Inspector of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government (LOCPG) in the HKSAR; Wong Kam-leung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers; Tang Fei, Legislative Council member and Vice President of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers; Dr William Lam, Chief Curriculum Development Officer (Science) of the Education Bureau; Christopher Kwok, SHKP Executive Director; and Yetta Li, Patriotic Education Centre Director. A total of 140 students and teachers from five primary and secondary schools attended the first visit today.

At the ceremony, SHKP Executive Director Christopher Kwok said: “Our country is widely recognized for its exceptional achievements in aerospace technology, including the historic completion of the first lunar far-side sample collection during the Chang’e-6 lunar exploration mission. Through the activities under the Read to Dream Programme, we hope to enhance young people’s understanding of the country’s achievements in aerospace technology, arouse their interest in science, and foster their sense of national pride and patriotism.”

Wong Kam-leung, Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers Chairman, said: “In his September speech, President Xi stressed that exploring the vast cosmos and building China into an aerospace power is our eternal dream. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China 75 years ago, the country’s aerospace technology industry has made significant breakthroughs and is now a global leader. We hope that through these educational visits, students in Hong Kong will have the opportunity to closely engage with these cutting-edge technologies and experience the challenging journey and remarkable achievements of China’s aerospace industry. This will further stimulate their interest in science and technology, motivate them to explore and to contribute to the country’s technological development in the future.”

This year’s Read to Dream programme teamed up with the Patriotic Education Centre, established by the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, to launch a series of aerospace-themed activities, including visits to the Hong Kong Base for Aerospace Science Education. Set up by the Patriotic Education Centre and the Chinese Society of Astronautics, the base has six exhibition zones that demonstrate the country’s advancements in rockets, satellites, lunar exploration and the manned space programme through audio and video displays, simulation models, promoting both patriotic education and aerospace developments. 

The students also visited the National Security and National Education Exhibition Hall at the Patriotic Education Centre to learn about recent developments and the significance of national security. 

SHKP’s dedication to fostering the young generation’s patriotism

To encourage young people to learn about our country’s achievements, SHKP earlier supported the “Meng Xi” InnoTech Promotional Programme by providing free venue space for its roving exhibition across eight high-traffic shopping malls in the city. The exhibition showcases the country’s cutting-edge technologies, inspiring the younger generation to develop their interest in science, thus contributing to the development of Hong Kong as an international hub for high-calibre talent as well as fostering a sense of belonging and pride in the country.

In July, the Read to Dream programme provided 1,000 underprivileged students with an allowance to buy books on science or Chinese culture at the Hong Kong Book Fair. It also organized a seminar on aerospace technology, which attracted over 300 students.