Hundreds queued for hours outside the Science Museum in the tourist district of Tsim Sha Tsui to see Yang, who orbited the Earth 14 times last month, open a space exhibition with Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.

"It's worth the wait," said 73-year-old Chen Kin-wai after catching only the briefest glimpse of China's newest national hero.

"I never thought I would live to see the day that China could proudly stand alongside the US and Russia as nations who sent a man into space. We should be proud of his achievement," Chen added, waving his China and Hong Kong flags.

In a short speech to open the exhibition, Yang confessed he had been "deeply moved by the warmth of the reception" from the "big Chinese family" since he arrived in the territory for a six-day visit on Friday.

The four-day exhibition, featuring his Shenzhou V spacecraft's return capsule, astronaut spacesuit and left-over space food, cost the government 10 million Hong Kong dollars (1.28 million US).

Several Hong Kong newspapers have criticised Yang's visit as an attempt to boost pro-Beijing parties, in particular the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, in upcoming elections.

Anti-Beijing sentiment has been running high in Hong Kong with dissatisfaction over economic management, the handling of the recent SARS crisis and an attempt to introduce new security laws sparking huge protests.

But many Hong Kongers set aside their cynicism after snapping up 80,000 free tickets to witness Yang's down-to-earth attitude.

"I think they should make a cartoon strip out of Yang because he is a Chinese superhero and the first Chinese to fly to space," said 11-year-old Simmy Li.

"I am amazed at how calm and modest he is, he acts as though he has just driven from Wan Chai to Central, not flown 14 times around the earth and made history," said taxi driver Wong Chi-lung, comparing Yang's feat to a local cab ride.

However, Hu Shixiang, the head of the 25-stong delegation accompanying Yang, revealed that beneath the astronaut's ice cool appearance, his Hong Kong fans caused his heart to beat faster than during his historic space odyssey.

The delegation was invited by the Hong Kong government shortly after Yang landed in northern China's Inner Mongolia on October 16 after a 21-hour flight to make China the third nation to send a man into space after the United States and Russia.

Yang was later due to attend a variety show staged in his honour at the Hong Kong Stadium with local celebrities such as film star Jackie Chan and a host of local pop stars expected to perform.

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

SPACE.WIRE