CS sends off polar expedition team

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki attended the send-off event of China's 41st Antarctic expedition team at the Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Home Port this morning.

The expedition team is travelling to Antarctica aboard the icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2, which have visited Hong Kong before.

Among the team members, six scientists were selected from Hong Kong, marking the first time for Hong Kong scientists to be included in the nation's Antarctic expedition team for such polar exploration missions.

Speaking at the event, apart from pointing out that this is the first time Hong Kong scientists are joining the nation's Antarctic expedition team to accomplish the research mission, Mr Chan described the special occasion as an important milestone for the city.

This not only reflects the country's recognition of Hong Kong's polar scientific research work but also highlights that Hong Kong, as an international innovation and technology hub, can play an active role in national scientific missions, he added.

âThis year marks the 40th anniversary of the country's polar expedition. Our country's efforts and achievements in polar exploration have caught the world's attention and demonstrated the responsibility of a major power in advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

âI hope that scientists in Hong Kong can make full use of the scientific research platform provided by the country, leverage their strengths, and conduct solid scientific research to make greater contributions to the country's scientific innovation,â Mr Chan said.

Before the ceremony, Mr Chan interacted with the Hong Kong scientific team and wished them success in completing the expedition and achieving fruitful research results.

In addition to meeting the expedition team, he joined Ministry of Natural Resources Vice Minister Sun Shuxian and Guangzhou Municipal Government Mayor Sun Zhiyang in touring Xuelong 2.

Mr Chan noted that the visits to Hong Kong by the two icebreakers participating in this expedition are of great and far-reaching significance to the city.

Xuelong made a special visit to Hong Kong before setting off for its Antarctic expedition in 2004, while Xuelong 2 made Hong Kong its first stop on its return voyage to the country after completing China's 40th Antarctic expedition earlier this year.

Furthermore, Mr Chan said he was pleased to learn that the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Polar Research Institute of China signed a framework agreement for strategic co-operation in polar science innovation in August.

He emphasised that he looks forward to more in-depth co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong in polar science research, which will mark a new chapter in the country's polar expedition.

Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong later today.