China launches Zhongxing-3A satellite

China on Saturday sent a new satellite into space from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the coast of southern island province of Hainan.

The satellite, Zhongxing-3A, was launched at 19:57 (Beijing Time) by a modified version of the Long March-7 carrier rocket and entered the planned orbit successfully.

Designed as a communication and broadcasting satellite, the satellite will provide voice, data, radio and television transmission services.

This marks the 526th mission of the Long March series carrier rockets.

The "northbound travel for Hong Kong vehicles" scheme has created numerous business opportunities, fostering youth entrepreneurship and further enhancing connectivity and integrated development within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The scheme, launched on July 1, 2023, allows eligible Hong Kong private cars to travel between Hong Kong and Guangdong Province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), facilitating Hong Kong residents' short-term travel to Guangdong for business, visiting family or sightseeing.

Kwok Dyun Coeng, a business professional working for an insurance company in Hong Kong, frequently travels between Guangdong and Hong Kong. Soon after the launch of the scheme, he applied and luckily obtained the permit, becoming one of the first residents receiving the license plate for northbound travel.

"With the implementation of the 'northbound travel for Hong Kong vehicles' scheme, I can now come over via the HZMB and meet clients directly. This has significantly increased both the time I spend with clients and the number of clients I meet, bringing tremendous convenience," he said.

With the improved transportation convenience, the economic and trade cooperation between Hong Kong and Chinese mainland has been strengthened. By enabling more efficient transportation of goods and personnel, businesses have facilitated the integration of supply chains and the expansion of markets, which has injected fresh impetus into the economic development of the GBA.

Kong Gaa Wai, a young entrepreneur from Hong Kong, said that he registered his first company in Zhuhai City, Guangdong in May 2023. The company's primary focus is developing artificial intelligence wearable devices for the elderly and visually impaired.

With the implementation of the scheme, Kong and his colleagues can now travel more conveniently between Guangdong and Hong Kong, gaining opportunities for further expanding their company's presence in the mainland market.

"Zhuhai can provide us with better policy support and a broader market, enabling us to transform our technology into products more rapidly. The convenient transportation conditions between Guangdong and Hong Kong will also attract more young entrepreneurs from Hong Kong to come to the GBA for startups," he said.