Hong Kong - Three Chinese astronauts who took part in the country's first spacewalk arrived in Hong Kong Friday for a four-day visit that will include talks to schoolchildren and a variety show.

The space men - known as taikonauts in China - are in a 40-strong delegation from the Shenzhou-7 manned space mission that also includes the deputy commander-in-chief of China's manned space engineering programme and designers who worked on the mission's systems.

Zhai Zhigang, who performed the 20-minute space walk on September 27, and crew members Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng were met along with other delegation members at Hong Kong airport by Hong Kong and Chinese officials.

The welcoming party included chief secretary Henry Tang and the commander of the People's Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong, Major General Zhang Shibo.

The Shenzhou-7 group will also take part in a space-themed variety show and other events linked to the space mission.

Chinese oil giant Sinopec has used the visit to promote a cut in the price of unleaded petrol by 2.50 Hong Kong dollars (32 cents) a litre, equivalent to around 17 or 18 per cent depending on the grade.

Commenting on the price reduction the oil company said: "Having been conferring support to China's space aeronautics sector, Sinopec is proud of the breakthrough the sector has achieved. Therefore, we would like to share the happiness with local drivers while the Shenzhou-7 heroes visit Hong Kong." (dpa)