The Delegation of China's First Manned Space Mission, including China's first astronaut Yang Liwei, ended its visit to Hong Kong and Macao Thursday afternoon, and left for Beijing.

Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR)government Edmund Ho Hau Wah held a farewell ceremony for the delegation, during which the delegation presented a map of Macao taken by China's self-launched satellite in space to the SAR government as a gift.

On behalf of the delegation, Hu Shixiang, vice director-general of China's manned space flight program and head of the delegation, said that although they had a short visit in Macao, they were greatly moved by Macao compatriots' ardor and affection.

The delegation began the visit to Hong Kong on Oct. 31, and continued the trip to Macao on Wednesday. It had a tight schedule, meeting people of all walks of life in Macao and giving speeches on China's first manned space mission. Yang was admired and treated as a star hero wherever he went.

The Exhibition of China's First Manned Space Mission, where there-entry Shenzhou-5 capsule, the astronaut's space suit and food and the parachute was put on show, began here Wednesday afternoon and will continue till Friday noon. On the opening day of the exhibition, over 20,000 people visited the show, which was unprecedented for such events in Macao.

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2003)