Yang, 38, is expected to arrive on Friday for a six-day visit, along with 25 Chinese officials and scientists from the aerospace programme, at the invitation of Hong Kong government.

His visit has been widely expected. Just hours after Yang safely landed in northern China's Inner Mongolia on October 16 following his 21-hour flight, the pro-Beijing political group the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) extended the invitation for Yang to visit Hong Kong.

It was later confirmed by the territory's chief executive Tung Chee-hwa, who announced Yang's visit on October 24, saying the central government in Beijing had accepted the invitation for Yang.

"This is a very skillfully orchestrated event initiated by both the central government in Beijing and Tung's administration," observed political commentator Sonny Lo at the University of Hong Kong.

"The visit is to create a greater social cohesion aimed to divert people's attention from the problems Hong Kong is facing following the July 1 mass protest," said Lo.

The demonstrations targetting a now shelved anti-subversion legislation threw the city into its worst political crisis since the former colony's handover to the Chinese in 1997.

Lo also noted that Yang's arrival comes ahead of the District Council elections on November 23.

He said the DAB, a close alliance of Tung's administration, will try to use the astronaut's visit to gain supporters and outgun democrats riding the momentum created by the demonstrations and trying to take seats in the council, currently dominated by pro-Beijing and pro-government forces.

Joseph Cheng, a political commentator at the City University of Hong Kong, said "Yang's visit is acceptable, but he must steer away from local politics.

"I think Hong Kong people are surprised by the priority given by Beijing to let the astronaut visit Hong Kong" so soon after his feat, Cheng said.

He said Yang's visit "will solidify the pro-China forces in Hong Kong, but people in Hong Kong know what they want.

"The eagerness of central government to help Hong Kong reflects ... just how it is out of touch in matters concerning Hong Kong," said Cheng.

He said that when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Hong Kong for the sixth anniversary of the territory's handover, residents "warmly welcomed" him as he officiated the signing of the Closer Economic Cooperation Arrangement (CEPA).

Under CEPA, some 273 Hong Kong goods will enjoy zero tariffs, while local firms and professionals will get easier access to the mainland market starting January 2004.

"People of Hong Kong are a practical bunch," Cheng said.

But almost as soon he left Hong Kong, 500,000 people took to the streets to protest against the planned enactment of national security legislation.

Following the protests, Beijing began paying more attention to the rumblings of discontent in Hong Kong, observers say.

Tung will host a dinner for Yang on Friday and he will attend the opening ceremony of an exhibition on China's first manned space mission at the Science Museum on Saturday.

The four-day exhibition, costing 10 million Hong Kong dollars (1.28 million , will be free of charge for visitors. It will feature the Shenzhou V spacecraft's return capsule and landing parachute, the astronaut's spacesuit and space food.

Up to 80,000 visitors are expected to visit the exhibition.

A variety show, expected to attract 40,000 people, will be held to welcome Yang at the Hong Kong Stadium, with celebrities such as film star Jackie Chan, the singers Twins, and Nicholas Tse performing.

Yang will also meet students and teachers in lectures planned on November 3 and 4.

SPACE.WIRE