Hongkongers who gathered to witness the historic launch of the Shenzhou-23 mission hailed the city’s first astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, as an “immense encouragement” as they watched the send-off ceremony for the crew in Jiuquan on Sunday night.
Astronauts Lai, Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan were met with cheers at the Wentian Pavilion in Dongfeng Aerospace City in Gansu province in mainland China before they headed to the launch site in the Gobi Desert.
Lai, a 43-year-old police superintendent and a…