The nation’s first domestically constructed polar scientific analysis icebreaker was given a heat welcome on Monday, full with tugboats spraying water into the air because the vessel cruised into Victoria Harbour, whereas helicopters from the Authorities Flying Service hovered close by and a police band performed rousing tunes on the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Chief Government John Lee Ka-chiu and Zheng Yanxiong, director of the central authorities’s liaison workplace in Hong Kong, welcomed the ship’s 30-strong delegation which included Zhang Beichen, the staff chief and chief scientist of China’s fortieth Antarctic expedition, and captain Xiao Zhimin.
The members had been additionally greeted by lawmaker Ma Fung-kwok, who chairs the organising committee for the five-day go to and its related occasions, in addition to Professor Ho Kin-chung, founding father of the Inexperienced Future Basis Affiliation and the Polar Analysis Institute of Hong Kong, each co-organisers.
Xue Lengthy 2, which entered service in 2019 and is provided with world-class marine and analysis amenities, options the world’s first dual-directional icebreaking functionality on the bow and stern, and might rotate freely 360 levels in place.
The vessel shall be open for public visits between Tuesday and Friday, however locations shall be allotted by a web based poll system due to restricted on-board capability.
The icebreaker’s go to additionally coincides with a two-day convention on local weather change within the metropolis to be attended by international consultants, and an exhibition on the subject and polar analysis on the Hong Kong Science Museum that runs till June.
College students shall be invited to listen to from the ship’s visiting scientists in addition to these from the Zhongshan Station in Antarctica, whereas lectures and exhibitions on polar science can even be organised for main and secondary faculty pupils beginning subsequent month.
On the evening earlier than the icebreaker formally arrived, metropolis chief Lee hosted the delegation at Authorities Home, with members sharing tales about establishing Qinling Station and dwelling in Antarctica.
Qinling is the fifth Antarctic analysis station operated by the Polar Analysis Institute of China.
Hong Kong to obtain icebreaker Xue Lengthy 2 for first time in April
Hong Kong to obtain icebreaker Xue Lengthy 2 for first time in April
Lee mentioned the icebreaker’s return residence with a primary cease within the metropolis was a “historic” and landmark occasion for the native scientific and environmental sectors.
He added that associated talks and actions would enable residents to be taught extra about China’s technological achievements in its polar expeditions and supplied an opportunity for the general public to embrace its nationwide identification, particularly among the many youthful technology.
Solar Shuxian, deputy minister of the ministry of pure sources, mentioned the nation had achieved outstanding leads to the expeditions and develop into one of many world’s nice polar powers.
He hoped that governments and analysis institutes in mainland China and Hong Kong may additional collaborate by the go to, whereas additionally contributing to the nation’s progress and sustainable ocean and polar growth.
