Hong Kong’s first astronaut is expected to chat with residents from the lofty heights of the Tiangong space station in the next two months, the city’s technology minister has said.

Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong also said on Sunday that the city could formulate a new strategy to better align with the country’s aerospace development.

“I hope that within the next month or two, we can arrange a public dialogue with Lai Ka-ying,” he told a radio programme, referring to the city’s first astronaut.

“We originally planned to connect local students with Lai Ka-ying for a ‘Tiangong classroom’ lecture during the mission. However, due to overwhelming interest from her colleagues and various sectors, we are still coordinating the arrangements.”

He said that more details would be shared later.

Lai blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwestern mainland China last month as part of the three-person Shenzhou-23 mission headed for the Tiangong space station.

In addition to being Hong Kong’s first astronaut, she is also China’s first female payload expert and the fourth woman the country has sent into space.