
30 students to explore national aerospace development
Thirty Hong Kong students will visit Beijing, Jiuquan and Xi'an to learn about the development of the country's aerospace achievements. Photo: RTHK
Thirty Hong Kong students will visit astronomy and aerospace science facilities in Beijing, Jiuquan and Xi'an for this year's Young Astronaut Training Camp from July 25 to August 2.
The students, from secondary two to secondary six, went through three rounds of selections to secure a place on the nine-day camp.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, curator of the Hong Kong Space Museum Timothy Ho said the selected students are equipped with astronomy knowledge and leadership skills.
He said they will get to visit places with limited public access, including an astronaut training centre in Beijing and the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.
'I think there are no other programmes in Hong Kong [where] students can visit these areas. So it's a good opportunity for them to visit and they must learn a lot of space [knowledge] and technology in this programme,' he said.
A secondary two student from Diocesan Girls' School, Anson Cheng, said she was excited to join the programme with others who have an interest in astronomy.
'When I was eight years old, I joined the junior astronaut programme, which gave me a chance to go to America. And I think I really got inspired from that,' she said.
'I really want to know what our own country has for all the astronomy stuff, all the astronomy advancement, all the technology that we're doing, which is why I joined this programme.'
At a send-off ceremony for the programme, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Warner Cheuk said Hong Kong has been actively participating in national aerospace projects.
'It's an honour for Hong Kong to contribute to national aerospace tasks. It also encourages us to continue aerospace and innovative education to cultivate scientific talent and develop Hong Kong as an international innovation centre,' he said.
Cheuk added that the Hong Kong Science Museum will hold an exhibition on the development of the country's aerospace, aviation and maritime technology from August 1.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


RTHK
6 days ago
- RTHK
30 students to explore national aerospace development
30 students to explore national aerospace development Thirty Hong Kong students will visit Beijing, Jiuquan and Xi'an to learn about the development of the country's aerospace achievements. Photo: RTHK Thirty Hong Kong students will visit astronomy and aerospace science facilities in Beijing, Jiuquan and Xi'an for this year's Young Astronaut Training Camp from July 25 to August 2. The students, from secondary two to secondary six, went through three rounds of selections to secure a place on the nine-day camp. Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, curator of the Hong Kong Space Museum Timothy Ho said the selected students are equipped with astronomy knowledge and leadership skills. He said they will get to visit places with limited public access, including an astronaut training centre in Beijing and the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. 'I think there are no other programmes in Hong Kong [where] students can visit these areas. So it's a good opportunity for them to visit and they must learn a lot of space [knowledge] and technology in this programme,' he said. A secondary two student from Diocesan Girls' School, Anson Cheng, said she was excited to join the programme with others who have an interest in astronomy. 'When I was eight years old, I joined the junior astronaut programme, which gave me a chance to go to America. And I think I really got inspired from that,' she said. 'I really want to know what our own country has for all the astronomy stuff, all the astronomy advancement, all the technology that we're doing, which is why I joined this programme.' At a send-off ceremony for the programme, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Warner Cheuk said Hong Kong has been actively participating in national aerospace projects. 'It's an honour for Hong Kong to contribute to national aerospace tasks. It also encourages us to continue aerospace and innovative education to cultivate scientific talent and develop Hong Kong as an international innovation centre,' he said. Cheuk added that the Hong Kong Science Museum will hold an exhibition on the development of the country's aerospace, aviation and maritime technology from August 1.


RTHK
11-07-2025
- RTHK
CUHK ups hay fever treatment with Chinese medicine
CUHK ups hay fever treatment with Chinese medicine CUHK's research team said nearly 40 percent of trial participants experienced significant improvements in both their symptoms and overall quality of life after using the modified Yu-Ping-Feng powder. Photo: RTHK Researchers at the School of Chinese Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine say they have enhanced a traditional herbal formula to better alleviate symptoms for hay fever patients. Hay fever, clinically termed allergic rhinitis, is a widespread allergic condition, which triggers frequent sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes and a runny nose. Studies indicate approximately one-quarter of Hong Kong's population suffers from this allergy. Lin Zhixiu, the school's director, said on Friday that the team have modified the traditional Chinese medicine formula "Yu-Ping-Feng" powder by incorporating additional herbs, including magnolia flowers and red reishi mushrooms. He said that hay fever is closely linked to dysfunction in the lungs, spleen and kidneys. He added that the original "Yu-Ping-Feng" formula is commonly used to tonify "qi", the vital energy flowing through the body, in the lungs and spleen, thereby boosting immunity. The research team conducted a clinical study involving 58 allergic rhinitis patients between April 2022 and June 2023. Results demonstrated that after eight weeks of treatment with the modified formula, nearly 40 percent of participants experienced significant improvements in both their symptoms and overall quality of life, the researchers said. "Western drugs primarily work through antihistamine effect so that medicine can help stop sneezing and also runny nose," Lin said. "In Chinese medicine, we primarily try to rebalance the body's functionality by regulating the body's immune system and consolidating the body's skin surface so we can really enhance the body's resistance so that in the future these sort of symptoms will be reduced for a long period of time." Given its effectiveness, Lin believes this modified formula is worth promoting as a valuable alternative therapeutic option for allergic rhinitis patients. "Chinese medicine practitioners can take reference with our trial result and also the composition of this formula in their daily practice," he said. "They can modify this formula to some extent that can suit their own patients more appropriately. "In terms of cost, I believe this herbal formula is not too costly because we primarily use the ordinary herbs into the formula. I think a lot of patients will be able to afford this formula." Lin added that the powder variation is an effective and safe treatment option for those suffering from hay fever.


RTHK
10-07-2025
- RTHK
HKU announces new gene therapy Hepatitis B treatment
HKU announces new gene therapy Hepatitis B treatment HKU's research team says all of its nine patients under the first stage of clinical trial have had their surface antigen levels reduced. Photo: RTHK The University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine said on Thursday that one of its 41 drugs under clinical trials for Hepatitis B may provide a cure for patients. The new gene therapy consists of removing the Hepatitis B infected gene along the patient's genetic code to reduce the surface antigens of the virus and halt the integration of the virus with the human genome. 'If we can suppress the virus and also eradicate the virus, the patients will not suffer or have a minimal risk or lower risk of suffering from liver cancer development and cirrhosis or liver failure,' said Professor Yuen Man-fung, who heads the research team. 'And that obviously will bring hope and a better life for patients,' he added. Currently, treatments for the disease can only help patients manage symptoms. Patients are still at risk of developing liver cancer or other complications, despite being required to rely on lifelong medication to treat the disease. The team said it has started testing the method on patients from March this year, and is hoping to enroll around 40 patients by the end of 2026. It said all of its nine patients undergoing treatment have had their surface antigen levels reduced, but more research has to be done before more data can be finalised and revealed. In Hong Kong, about six percent of the population live with the chronic disease.