HK scientist joins nation's Antarctic expedition team for first time
China's 41st Antarctic expedition officially set sail today (Nov. 1), with Hong Kong's first-ever scientist participating in the national research team — an event hailed as a significant milestone for the city.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Eric Chan Kwok-ki, attended the farewell ceremony in Guangzhou's Nansha District and delivered a speech.
Chan highlighted that the 41st Antarctic expedition marks another chapter in China's polar exploration efforts. He noted that both icebreakers participating in this mission, "Xuelong" and "Xuelong 2," have strong ties to HK. The "Xuelong" visited HK in 2004 before heading to Antarctica, while the "Xuelong 2," China's first domestically-built polar icebreaker, made HK its first stop after completing the 40th Antarctic expedition earlier this year, underscoring the nation's care and attention toward the city.
A particularly significant milestone, Chan emphasized, is the inclusion of the HK scientist in the 41st Antarctic research team — a first in the city's history. This milestone not only reflects the nation's recognition of HK's polar research capabilities but also highlights HK's potential to play an active role in national scientific missions. The achievement, Chan said, holds great significance for HK.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's polar research efforts. The country's achievements in polar exploration have garnered global attention, demonstrating its commitment to building a shared future for humanity. Chan expressed hope that HK scientists would fully utilize the platforms provided by the nation, contributing to scientific innovation, and using HK's international status to showcase China's leadership and organizational capabilities in large-scale polar and marine research projects to the world.
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