Cathay Pacific Youth Exchange students head for Beijing
Cathay Pacific Airways today sent 30 young people to Beijing in its first ever exchange programme on aviation and aerospace technology for less-well-off students in Beijing and Hong Kong. Their departure follows almost a week of pre-trip training and team-building sessions.
The group, aged between 13 and 17 years, departed on Cathay Pacific flight CX318 for the week-long trip to China's capital, during which they will meet aerospace scientists, build working rockets and visit national aerospace ministries. They will also visit schools and youth centres to meet other young people in Beijing and visit the city's historical and cultural sites.
Before their departure the students, who could not otherwise afford to take part in an overseas exchange programme, got a glimpse of Hong Kong's aviation operations with visits to Cathay Pacific's headquarters. They also got a close-up view of operations at Hong Kong International Airport, visited the airport's air traffic control towers and the AVSECO airport security training centre.
During a briefing by the Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Society the students were shown equipment used by astronauts, learned about living in weightless conditions and concepts of space navigation. In Beijing they will visit the China Aerospace and Technology Corporation which develops China's space programme.
They also met with students who have taken part in previous Cathay Pacific supported exchange programmes, such as the Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience Programme.
The Cathay Pacific Airways Beijing-Hong Kong Youth Exchange Programme is organised by Cathay Pacific and The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. The theme for this first exchange programme is "Aviation and Aerospace Technology". A similar group of students from Beijing will visit Hong Kong later in the year.
Cathay Pacific Director and Chief Operating Officer Philip Chen said: "This programme is special as it not only builds greater understanding about aspects of life in Beijing and Hong Kong, but also offers rare opportunities to visit some leading aviation and aerospace facilities. Now that Cathay Pacific has resumed services to Beijing we want to help young people who might not otherwise have the chance to take part in an exchange programme."
Executive Director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Dr. Rosanna Wong said: "It has been a mission of the Federation to connect our young people with the motherland. Through this meaningful exchange programme, young people can grasp the latest aviation and aerospace breakthrough of our country firsthand and sparks national pride in them."
