Thirty Hong Kong students will visit astronomy and aerospace science facilities in Beijing, Jiuquan and Xi'an for this year’s Young Astronaut Training Camp from July 25 to August 2.

The students, from secondary two to secondary six, went through three rounds of selections to secure a place on the nine-day camp.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, curator of the Hong Kong Space Museum Timothy Ho said the selected students are equipped with astronomy knowledge and leadership skills.

He said they will get to visit places with limited public access, including an astronaut training centre in Beijing and the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.

“I think there are no other programmes in Hong Kong [where] students can visit these areas. So I think it’s a good opportunity for them to visit and they must learn a lot of space [knowledge] and technology in this programme,” he said.

A secondary two student from Diocesan Girls' School, Anson Cheng, said she was excited to join the programme with others who have an interest in astronomy.

“When I was eight years old, I joined the junior astronaut programme, which gave me a chance to go to America. And I think I really got inspired from that,” she said.

“I really want to know what our own country has for all the astronomy stuff, all the astronomy advancement, all the technology that we're doing, which is why I joined this programme.”

At a send-off ceremony for the programme, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Warner Cheuk said Hong Kong has been actively participating in national aerospace projects.

“It’s an honour for Hong Kong to contribute to national aerospace tasks. It also encourages us to continue aerospace and innovative education to cultivate scientific talent and develop Hong Kong as an international innovation centre,” he said.

Launched in 2009, the Young Astronaut Training Camp has entered its 14th edition.

Cheuk added that from August 1, the Hong Kong Science Museum will hold an exhibition on the development of the country’s aerospace, aviation and maritime technology.