CS attends send-off event of China’s 41st Antarctic expedition team in Guangzhou (with photos/videos)

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the send-off event of China's 41st Antarctic expedition team this morning (November 1) at the Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Home Port.
 
     The expedition team is travelling to Antarctica aboard the icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2. Among the team members, six scientists are selected from Hong Kong, marking the first time Hong Kong scientists have been included in the nation's Antarctic expedition team for the mission of polar exploration.
 
     Speaking at the send-off event, Mr Chan said that it is the first time Hong Kong scientists are joining the nation's Antarctic expedition team to accomplish the research mission, which is an important milestone for Hong Kong. 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. It is of great significance to Hong Kong.
 
     "This 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. I 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," 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. Mr Chan also joined other officiating guests, including Vice Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources Mr Sun Shuxian; the Mayor of the Guangzhou Municipal Government, Mr Sun Zhiyang; and the Vice-Chancellor and President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Professor Rocky Tuan, in boarding the vessel for a tour of Xuelong 2 and met with the expedition team members to pay his greatest respect to them. He also said that the visits to Hong Kong by the two icebreakers participating in this expedition are of great and far-reaching significance to Hong Kong – 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 our motherland after completing China's 40th Antarctic expedition earlier this year. Mr Chan said he was pleased to learn that the CUHK and the Polar Research Institute of China signed a framework agreement for strategic co-operation in polar science innovation in August this year, and 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 this afternoon.