The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Friday received more than 15,000 signatures that represent the good wishes of Hong Kong residents for the Shenzhou V spacecraft to be launched successfully. 

The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Union (FTU) held the campaignon Oct. 8- 9 in its 10 district offices to collect Hong Kong residents' signatures to show local residents support and good will for the motherland's first manned space flight.

Zhou Jun-ming, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR said these signatures show Hong Kong residents' patriotism and their strong will for motherland to be more prosperous.

Wong Kwok-hing, the spokesman for FTU, said the Hong Kong residents' reaction to the campaign was quite good. Almost all of the people were proud of being a Chinese as the motherland has theability to sent people to the outside space.

(People's Daily October 13, 2003)