Hong Kong must seize the chance to become a global hub in the new space race
In his China Daily HK opinion piece dated February 25, 2026, Prof Quentin Parker, Director of HKU’s Laboratory for Space Research, urges Hong Kong to urgently position itself as a global hub in the NewSpace economy—projected to exceed US$1.5 trillion by 2035—focusing on commercial space and space sustainability (e.g., orbital debris tracking, traffic management). Leveraging strengths as a financial/legal/education hub, gateway to China, and English proficiency, Hong Kong can lead in space finance, cross-border collaboration (with CNSA/private firms), and sustainability initiatives. Local assets include university projects like payloads on Chang’e missions and CubeSats. Parker warns of competition from Singapore’s new space agency and proposes a three-point plan: establish a Hong Kong space office, launch a dedicated innovation fund, and create a space sustainability task force/NGO hub. Hong Kong must act swiftly to avoid missing this opportunity.
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