China's first astronaut Yang Liwei and other visiting experts of China's manned space mission gave a science lecture on China's manned space program in Hong Kong Monday.

The astronaut and the experts introduced to over 1,000 Hong Kong students, teachers and space fans the manned space programs' systems, the Chinese characteristics of the program, and the training and working experience of the astronaut.

The lecture, organized by the Education and Manpower Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, was aimed at providing the Hong Kong education sector an opportunity to learn about china's manned space technology development.

The organizer also hoped to instill in students self-motivation and perseverance and enhance awareness of their national identity by the lecture.

At the lecture, a short film titled "Space Flight Dreams Come into True" was shown for the first time in Hong Kong. The film tells the planning, implementation and future development of the program and says China plans to launch space lab in 2007.

Wang Yongzhi, chief designer of China's manned space project, said the successful flight is only the first step of China's manned space flight. He hoped the young people of Hong Kong will join the future development of the project.

Yang Liwei, sharing his training and learning experience with the students, told the students that to prepare for the flight, he had devoted himself entirely into all the training that was required.

"When in the space, I have to adjust myself as quickly as possible to the new environment and it is a test to one's will," he told the young students, noting that strong will is the key to success.

Yang is viewed as an excellent astronaut and the role model of the 1 million Hong Kong students. A student from St. Marks School told Xinhua that he has decided to major physics in University, hoping he can enter into the aerospace field someday in the future.

Other speakers at the lecture included Xie Mingbao, director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office; Qi Faren, chief designer of the spacecraft; Huang Chunping, commander-in-chief of the rocket system; Yu Zhijian, chief designer of the monitoring system; and Xi Zheng, deputy commander-in-chief of the monitoring system.

Today's lecture was broadcast live on Hong Kong's ATV World Channel, Cable TV, and RTHK Putonghua Channel.

(Xinhua News Agency November 3, 2003)