HONG KONG - Hong Kong residents are expected to have a deep-space feast as an exhibition on the achievements of China's scientists over the past one hundred years and some lunar soil brought back to Earth by Chang'e 5 spacecraft in December 2020 will open to the public on Sunday.

The opening ceremony for the free exhibition, which will run until July 9, was held on Saturday.

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Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Tan Tieniu, deputy chief of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and several of China's top aerospace scientists visiting the city, including Qi Faren, first chief designer of China's Shenzhou spacecraft, and Hu Hao, chief designer of China's third-phase lunar exploration program, and others officiated the ceremony.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of an exhibition on achievements of China’s scientists over the past 100 years at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center on June 26, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

In her speech, Lam said she believes Hong Kong people have a special affinity for the Chang'e lunar exploration project. It was not because of her name "yuet-ngor", which reminds people of Chang'e, a Chinese goddess of the moon in the folk tale, but the city's participation in the project.

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Tan, in giving a speech, said it has been proven that Hong Kong science and technology sector is also a firm believer of technology empowering a nation and has been contributing to the nation using technology. And the nation's projects have provided them a great stage to showcase their ambitions.

I'm looking forward to Hong Kong's active participation in the research of lunar samples, as well as its wider and deeper engagement in following national space projects.

Hu Hao, chief designer of China's third-phase lunar exploration program

Addressing the ceremony, Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, vice-president for Research and Development of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said Hong Kong scientists in face of complicated and fast-changing international situation should proactively engage with the country's key scientific research projects and shoulder more responsibilities.

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University designed a system to collect and pack samples on lunar surface for the Chang'e 5 mission in 2020 and also for the upcoming Chang-e 6 mission. It helped the probe of Chang'e 5 mission to collect lunar samples of up to two kilograms and bring them back to the Earth.

Noting the city should seize opportunities brought by the nation's development and integrate into the nation's overall development, Ip said Hong Kong should encourage more young people to engage in and devote themselves into scientific research work.

A reporter (right) takes photos of a lunar soil sample on display at an exhibition on the achievements of China’s scientists over the past 100 years at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center on June 26, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Hu Hao, chief designer of China's third-phase lunar exploration program, said Hong Kong has a solid technological foundation and a pool of quality talents to contribute to the nation and Hong Kong.

The exhibition will be open to the public until July 9. Visitors need to register online in advance

"I'm looking forward to Hong Kong's active participation in the research of lunar samples, as well as its wider and deeper engagement in following national space projects," Hu said.

The exhibition is one of the key events in the scientists' five-day visit to Hong Kong. Starting from Wednesday, scientists held face-to-face talks at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the University of Hong Kong and six local secondary and primary schools.

The exhibition will be open to the public from 10 am to 6 pm on weekdays and from 10 am to 8 pm on weekends. Visitors need to register online in advance.