National Flag Above, Blue Planet Beyond the Window
HKCT Students Mark National Day with a Cinematic Journey: “The Most Breathtaking Sight Is the Unity of Heaven and Earth”
(1 October 2026, Hong Kong) – As the Five-starred Red Flag was raised solemnly on campus, the silver screen unveiled a breathtaking view of our blue planet from 400 kilometres above Earth. At HKCT, a profound dialogue spanning the ground and outer space unfolded in celebration of National Day. HKCT Institute of Higher Education and Hong Kong College of Technology (“HKCT”) today held the “Learned Classroom: National Day Film Screening in Celebration of the 77th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” at the Multi-purpose Hall of the Jockey Club Undergraduate Campus. The event featured a solemn flag-raising ceremony, followed by a screening of Shenzhou 13, China’s first documentary film shot in space, attracting nearly 400 students, staff, and alumni to come together in celebration.
As the successful launch of Dr Lai Ka-ying, Hong Kong’s first payload specialist, sparked a wave of enthusiasm for aerospace exploration across the city, HKCT once again brought together aerospace technology and life education from a distinctive perspective. Following its organisation of a student viewing of the “Tiangong Classroom” last month, HKCT took students on an inspiring journey from the solemnity of the national flag to the magnificence of the vast universe, encouraging them to appreciate the spirit of “unity between space and Earth” through teamwork, as well as the values that inspire personal growth.
AI Student Inspired by Astronauts’ Journey and Professional Exploration
For Kwok Tsz-hang, a member of the HKCT Flag-raising Team and a Year 3 student of the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Engineering, this National Day carried special significance. He began the day by joining his teammates in conducting the National Day flag-raising ceremony with solemnity and precision. He later watched the documentary, experiencing the vastness of space through the eyes of the astronauts.
Kwok shared that what impressed him most was the astronauts’ authentic emotional journey. In particular, despite the fear they experienced when venturing outside the spacecraft and confronting an extreme environment, the immediate encouragement and support they received from their commander and fellow crew members demonstrated a genuine sense of camaraderie that deeply moved him.
He added that the screening had inspired him to think about his own future. He hopes to apply his professional knowledge in artificial intelligence to space exploration and practical applications, contributing to the country’s advancement in science and technology.
Aspiring Social Worker Reflects on Two-way Communication and Team Coordination
The close communication between the astronauts in space and the ground control team also strongly resonated with Wong Ka-chun, a Year 4 student of the Bachelor of Social Work programme.
Wong observed that social work often requires cross-disciplinary coordination among supervisors, community partners, healthcare organisations and other stakeholders, which closely mirrors the “dialogue between space and Earth” portrayed in the documentary.
He noted that, in a constantly changing environment, an aerospace mission does not simply involve following instructions in one direction. Rather, it relies on two-way communication, timely adjustments, and close collaboration between the teams in space and on Earth to overcome challenges together. In his view, the effective communication and mutual coordination demonstrated under such extreme conditions also lie at the heart of social work. The experience inspired him to further strengthen his ability to bring teams and communities together in his future career as a social worker.
President Encourages Young People to Cherish the Advantages of “One Country, Two Systems”, Strive for Self-improvement and Contribute to the Nation
Following the screening, Professor Chan Cheuk-hay, President of HKCT, engaged in a warm exchange with students and staff. Professor Chan reflected that the Chinese nation has long harboured dreams of space exploration, as embodied in the ancient legend of Chang’e flying to the Moon, while gunpowder laid the foundations for the early development of rocket propulsion. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the country has undergone more than half a century of exploration and advancement, and today stands at the forefront of areas such as landing on the far side of the Moon and automated spacecraft docking.
Professor Chan also cited the reflections of Dr Lai Ka-ying, Hong Kong’s first payload specialist, emphasising that Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, together with the institutional safeguards provided by “One Country, Two Systems” and the Basic Law, has opened up valuable opportunities for Hong Kong’s young people to participate in the nation’s aerospace endeavours.
He encouraged students to cherish these unique advantages and continuously strengthen their professional capabilities. Regardless of the paths they pursue in the future, he hoped they would apply their expertise and contribute the strengths of Hong Kong’s younger generation to the nation’s advancement in science, technology and aerospace development.
Deepening Inspiring and People-centred Patriotic Education to Nurture a New Generation with a Strong Commitment to the Country
HKCT has long been committed to promoting patriotic education in a systematic, engaging and inspiring manner. Through a diverse range of initiatives, including the “Learned Classroom”, HKCT closely connects the nation’s development with students’ professional learning and personal growth.
From the knowledge and inspiration gained through the “Tiangong Classroom” to the profound emotional impact of Shenzhou 13, HKCT seeks to transform national education into a meaningful learning journey that students can experience, understand and connect with on a personal level.
While the event concluded amid enthusiastic exchanges, the inspiration brought by the spirit of China’s aerospace endeavours will continue to resonate with HKCT students, encouraging them to embrace a strong sense of commitment to the country and, together, set their sights on the vast sea of stars in the journey of the new era.
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