No seats for Chinese space tourists

(The Standard 27 Jan, 2014) Chinese nationals have been banned from boarding Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic space flights - in case they steal the rocket technology.

 

Tycoons from China have been told they cannot be among the space tourists because of anti-espionage regulations in the US, from where the British firms first commercial flights are due to take off later this year with tickets costing US$250,000 (HK$1.95 million), according to the Daily Mail.

 

"We have had calls from people in China but we have to tell them we cant accept them if they only have a Chinese passport, "a Virgin Galactic salesman based in Hong Kong told the newspaper.

 

But some have successfully applied for Hong Kong passports, the salesman said, as the SAR is exempt from the ban.