Many readers may find this topic puzzling at first glance. Hong Kong is a compact territory that has long been disconnected from mainland China's space program framework, has undergone decades of deindustrialization, and boasts virtually no recognized aerospace sector. Aside from the fluctuating performance of mainland space-related stocks on the local stock exchange, what could "another golden era" possibly mean for this city?
What remains largely overlooked is that Hong Kong actually served as the pioneering force behind China's commercial space endeavors. On the night of April 7, 1990, a Long March 3 rocket lifted off from the Xichang launch site, successfully delivering the AsiaSat-1 communications satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. This storied satellite, manufactured by Hughes Aircraft of the United States, had initially failed to reach its intended orbit during a first launch attempt, was subsequently retrieved from space by a Space Shuttle mission, and then acquired by Hong Kong's Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company. It was launched back into orbit aboard a Chinese rocket, served well beyond its designed lifespan for nearly 13 years, and was ultimately moved to a graveyard orbit—its final resting place. This mission marked China's inaugural international commercial launch, igniting the first major boom in the nation's commercial space industry, with Long March rockets at one point commanding a 10% share of the global commercial launch market. At that moment, Hong Kong stood at the forefront of Asia-Pacific commercial spaceflight. This Sino-British joint venture became the first commercial communications satellite company in Asia, composing the opening chapter of China's commercial space saga. Shortly thereafter, APT Satellite, a second Hong Kong-based high-orbit communications satellite firm with mainland investment, also joined the space race. However, Hong Kong's commercial space journey came to an abrupt halt. Today, the impressive array of antennas by the seaside in Tai Po remains a silent monument, with many having forgotten that Hong Kong was once the earliest fertile ground for China's commercial space industry.
Another lesser-known fact is that Hong Kong's space technology research began early, has remained remarkably active, and has achieved notable successes. The source of this scientific strength lies within its top-tier universities—true havens of expertise where space technology flourishes. Let's take a closer look.
At the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Yung Kai-leung and dentist Dr. Ng Sai-chuen collaborated to develop a space gripper in 1995, which was sent to Russia's Mir space station for use as an orbital repair tool. From that point onward, Professor Yung's team has dedicated decades to advancing space robotics and deep-space exploration. They have developed Mars sampling mechanisms for the United Kingdom's Beagle 2 and Russia's Phobos-Grunt missions, created camera pointing systems for China's Chang'e-3 and Chang'e-4 lunar probes, and engineered the lunar surface sampling devices for Chang'e-5 and Chang'e-6, playing critical roles in multiple successful lunar sample return missions. The landing surveillance camera on China's Tianwen-1 Mars rover also originated from this team. Building on these world-class achievements, PolyU established the Deep Space Exploration Research Centre and a lunar soil non-destructive analysis laboratory, undertaking non-destructive research on national lunar samples. Most recently, the university founded the Academy of Aerospace Research, with Professor Yu Hongyu as its inaugural dean, to further broaden the scope and deepen the impact of its space research.
Turning to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, one of the most significant developments in 2026 has been the historic journey of Dr. Lai Ka-yan, a Hong Kong astronaut who traveled to China's space station—the first person from the city to reach space. Her academic home is HKUST. The MUSICO camera, developed under the leadership of Professor So Hoi, director of the university's Space Science and Technology Institute, was delivered to the space station aboard the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft in May 2026. As Hong Kong's first major scientific payload on the space station, it conducts high-precision detection of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide and methane. Dr. Lai's primary mission involves operating this camera for in-orbit experiments, adding a distinctive Hong Kong touch to China's crewed space program. In August 2023, HKUST successfully launched the "Shun Ping 1" remote sensing microsatellite, marking the first satellite independently developed by a Hong Kong institution. On April 24, 2025, the China National Space Administration announced the selection results for the Chang'e-8 "Multi-functional Lunar Surface Operating Robot and Mobile Charging Station" project. With HKUST as the lead, four other Hong Kong universities and mainland and international partners are jointly implementing this, the largest space project in Hong Kong's history.
The University of Hong Kong's Laboratory for Space Research, directed by Professor Quentin Parker, specializes in space science. In July 2020, the laboratory successfully launched the Lobster Eye X-ray Satellite in collaboration with Nanjing University, marking HKU's first jointly initiated and co-developed space science satellite. The ILO-C wide-field telescope camera, initiated by the International Lunar Observatory Association and primarily developed by HKU-LSR, is slated as an international payload on the Chang'e-7 lander scheduled for launch next March, conducting astronomical observations from the lunar south pole. A micro-meteoroid impact flash detection lunar orbiter CubeSat, expected to launch in 2028, aims to assess risks for future lunar bases. Additionally, a Mars surface hyperspectral imager developed by Professor Li Yiliang's team has been selected for the national Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a leader in AI-enabled satellite remote sensing. On September 24, 2024, and February 12, 2026, CUHK successfully launched two AI remote sensing microsatellites—the "Hong Kong Youth Science and Technology Innovation" and "CUHK-1"—making it the university with the highest number of satellites launched in Hong Kong. These satellites utilize the DeepSeek large language model as their core AI foundation, achieving the world's first on-orbit real-time inference and AI-powered image analysis. Furthermore, a laser heterodyne spectrometer developed by Professor Ma Peifeng's team has been selected as a cooperative payload for the Tianwen-3 Mars mission, intended for high-precision detection of Martian atmospheric composition.
Overall, Hong Kong's universities have established a comprehensive chain of space engagement, spanning precision deep-space exploration instruments, space station scientific equipment, independently developed satellites, lunar surface robots, and planetary science spectrometers, from hardware development to remote sensing data applications. They have built routine scientific collaboration with the China National Space Administration, mainland aerospace institutes, commercial space companies, and international partners, amassing a portfolio of flight-proven technologies. However, these scientific strengths have not translated into commercial success. Aside from the longstanding presence of AsiaSat and APT Satellite, no third sustainable local space enterprise has emerged in Hong Kong. Time appears frozen three decades in the past, and this disparity warrants serious reflection.
Objectively speaking, the rise of commercial space in the United States and mainland China over the past decade has also had an impact on Hong Kong. Several mainland aerospace companies have established branch offices in the city, seeking overseas expansion or stock listings. There have been attempts at local commercial space ventures, including Asia-Pacific Space, which once outlined grand plans for satellite manufacturing and constellation deployment, but various internal and external constraints ultimately prevented these initiatives from maturing. It must be acknowledged that Hong Kong faces inherent challenges: it lacks a complete local aerospace industrial base, its traditional manufacturing sector has long relocated, and past space-related policies have focused primarily on regulatory oversight rather than systematic incentives for commercial space development. Yet Hong Kong possesses unique endowments that others cannot easily replicate: a solid academic research foundation, a mature and sophisticated international financial market, globally aligned commercial legal frameworks, a concentration of international talent, and its distinctive gateway position connecting mainland China with the world. Hardware manufacturing is not Hong Kong's mandatory path; rather, research innovation, international connectivity, and financial and legal services are the advantages where the city can make a substantial impact.
Looking at the mainland, the entire industry has experienced explosive growth in recent years. As domestic competition intensifies, international expansion has become an inevitability. The China National Space Administration's commercial space action plan explicitly advocates for "promoting the orderly overseas expansion of commercial space enterprises." The central government has consistently supported Hong Kong in leveraging its strengths to assist mainland enterprises in going global. It is widely recognized that Hong Kong holds irreplaceable advantages in facilitating the global expansion of China's commercial space sector, and the city has become a frequently mentioned topic within the country's commercial space community. These developments compel Hong Kong to reassess its position and ensure it does not miss out on a critical track. In 2024, Chief Executive John Lee's policy address addressed space for the first time, proposing research into streamlining the approval process for low-orbit satellite licenses. The 2025 policy address went further, explicitly stating that the government would promote space technology development and support the space economy. The annual budget speech delivered in February 2026 once again emphasized the space economy, proposing to identify suitable aerospace companies for development in Hong Kong and requiring the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to review listing regulations to facilitate and attract more aerospace enterprises to list in the city.
Since the beginning of this year, calls for developing commercial space have grown increasingly louder across various sectors of Hong Kong society. The Aerospace Professional Committee of the Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Industry Alliance, and the Hong Kong Commercial Space Association have all been established. Legislative Council member Duncan Chiu, representing the innovation and technology sector, has repeatedly written articles and spoken publicly, urging Hong Kong to leverage its advantages, align with national space projects, plan a commercial space industry roadmap, and promote the construction of a new track for the space economy. Additionally, major universities, the New People's Party, and the Harilela Group are active advocates for Hong Kong's commercial space development. In short, there is now a consensus among the central government, the Hong Kong SAR government, political circles, academia, and the business community: developing commercial space and establishing Hong Kong as a bridgehead for China's aerospace international expansion is both a national strategic necessity and a mission entrusted to Hong Kong by the times.
The question is, how should this be accomplished? Although the chief executive's policy address has touched upon the space economy, it has only been a cursory mention, and Hong Kong still lacks a comprehensive blueprint for space economy development. Recently, with the city's first five-year plan being placed on the agenda, Hong Kong's commercial space sector has encountered a significant opportunity. On July 9, legislator Duncan Chiu invited representatives from more than thirty universities, research institutions, and commercial space enterprises from Hong Kong and the mainland to convene a special consultation session on space technology and commercial space development for the five-year plan. The opinions gathered at this meeting are expected to be submitted to the chief executive and relevant policy-making departments as important reference material for drafting the plan.
It is worth sharing some insights from this consultation session. Notably, several suggestions echoed perspectives previously proposed regarding Hong Kong's commercial space development. A recurring theme was the need to strengthen top-level design. Currently, Hong Kong's space technology and space economy efforts are fragmented: space research funding primarily comes from the government, but projects are planned independently by each university; spectrum and licensing management falls under the Office of the Communications Authority, which coordinates with the mainland's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; commercial companies are left to fend for themselves; and space education and outreach activities are scattered across universities, the Space Museum, and various organizations. To date, Hong Kong has neither a space technology innovation park, nor a space industry fund, nor any major space project with local roots. The solution lies in establishing a high-level dedicated body for strategic planning, resource coordination, and supervisory guidance of the space economy—in plain terms, a "Hong Kong version space agency." As a highly developed and internationalized city-economy, smaller international economies may offer more relevant models than mainland cities. Singapore, without a deep aerospace heritage, established a national space agency to leverage its strengths; Luxembourg, relying on its financial and legal advantages, has become a key hub for the global satellite industry. This body should coordinate the overall development of Hong Kong's space technology and commercial space industry, formulate strategic plans and industrial policies, break through inter-departmental barriers across innovation and technology, finance, and education, and serve as a standing window for liaising with the national space agency while also handling international space cooperation. It would end the era of dispersed resources and fragmented governance, uniting Hong Kong's research, capital, and professional services into a cohesive force.
Under the planning and coordination of a future "Hong Kong Space Agency," a series of concrete initiatives could be implemented. Below are some recommendations. First, support the continued development of university space research in depth, sustaining Hong Kong universities' participation in major national space projects and attracting more national-level space research programs to the city, while establishing pathways for transforming university innovations from prototypes to commercial products. Second, host an annual "Hong Kong International Space Economy Summit" to bring together space agency officials, commercial space leaders, and top researchers from around the world to discuss global space economy trends, regulatory innovation, investment opportunities, and outer space governance. Third, optimize existing talent attraction mechanisms to entice leading figures and research teams to establish long-term careers in Hong Kong. Fourth, deeply integrate into the Greater Bay Area industrial ecosystem by building a complementary production chain where Hong Kong focuses on high-value aerospace R&D and design, while leveraging the manufacturing capabilities of the Greater Bay Area to address hardware gaps and strengthen industrial synergy. Fifth, amplify Hong Kong's accumulated expertise in space robotics to position itself in frontier applications such as on-orbit servicing and space debris removal. Sixth, lay out space application tracks by exploring and planning a locally developed low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation. Seventh, capitalize on Hong Kong's institutional advantages in cross-border data flows to build a space data platform, establishing mechanisms for registration, valuation, and trading of satellite remote sensing, navigation, and communications data. Eighth, collaborate with the China National Space Administration to jointly build a satellite operation control center and ground receiving stations in Hong Kong, lowering the entry barriers for commercial space enterprises. Ninth, establish a global space financial center by optimizing listing rules to suit commercial space companies, expanding space-specific insurance and space asset financial instruments, and creating registration and pledge mechanisms to attract various forms of capital. Tenth, provide space-related compliance and arbitration services by leveraging Hong Kong's common law advantages to refine commercial rules governing space assets, cross-border data, space liability, and debris management, thereby supporting mainland aerospace companies' international expansion and contributing to China's participation in shaping international space regulations.
Looking back at history, Hong Kong once made an indelible mark on commercial space. Looking at the present, the nation is vigorously developing its commercial space sector, and the space economy stands on the verge of explosive growth. Hong Kong possesses favorable timing, geographical advantages, and the support of its people. With a grand national strategy as its backdrop, a solid foundation of university research, the hard power of financial and legal expertise, and a unique position connecting the world, Hong Kong is fully equipped to reclaim its place on the global commercial space stage. The sea breeze has blown for five thousand years, and the Pearl of the Orient has been reintegrated into the motherland for nearly three decades, yet the journey of integration between Hong Kong and the mainland remains a work in progress. The space economy requires deep integration into the mainland aerospace ecosystem while simultaneously leading China's aerospace sector toward global engagement, ultimately reaching toward the stars. This is undoubtedly Hong Kong's historic opportunity.
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