Li Bin, the vice-chairperson of the 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the chairperson of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (center), Yin Zonghua, the deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR (second left), Alice Mak Mei-kuen, the secretary for Home and Youth Affairs (second right) and Guo Kaitian, the senior vice-president of Tencent and the chairman of Tencent Foundation (first left), pose for a photo during the  "Master Lectures for Youth: Launching Ceremony for Exploring Hong Kong and Macau" at the Hong Kong Palace Museum on Sept 14, 2023 (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Five leading science and arts experts encouraged Hong Kong young people to learn more new-frontier knowledge, explore the world, and contribute to the country.

They made the call through inspirational speeches sharing their expertise and experiences, in a face-to-face exchange event held in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Young people in Hong Kong praised the speakers, saying that their presentations sparked their curiosity, ignited their imagination, and opened their inner worlds to other possibilities.

Hosted at Hong Kong Palace Museum in West Kowloon, the event was part of the "Master Class for Youth" series, a collaborative initiative between the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and Tencent Holdings Ltd., to support the development of young people.

Since its launch in 2021, the campaign has invited over 80 esteemed figures to share their inspirational stories and insights in an online program. Nearly 140 high-quality episodes have been released, cultivating widespread societal impact.

Chinese astrophysicist Wu Xiangping speaks during the  "Master Lectures for Youth: Launching Ceremony for Exploring Hong Kong and Macau" at the Hong Kong Palace Museum on Sept 14, 2023. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

On Thursday, the lecture series expanded to Hong Kong, with an array of activities for young Hong Kong people to embrace high-quality science and cultural knowledge.

In addition to Thursday’s event inviting experts to give speeches, the series will also launch textbooks curated for Hong Kong and Macao students and an exhibition highlighting the life of Soong Ching-ling, one-time wife of Sun Yat-sen.

Renowned astrophysicist Wu Xiangping, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered a captivating presentation exploring the Big Bang and vividly brought his deep expertise to life by discussing how human beings explore extraterrestrial civilizations.

Ye Cong, the chief submersible pilot of Jiaolong Manned Deep-Sea Submersible and the chief designer of Fendouzhe Submersible, speaks during the  "Master Lectures for Youth: Launching Ceremony for Exploring Hong Kong and Macau" at the Hong Kong Palace Museum on Sept 14, 2023. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Ye Cong, chief designer of Jiaolong – China's first manned deep-sea submersible – gave a presentation transporting listeners beneath the waves with vivid descriptions of Jiaolong's record-setting dives. He also showcased the breakthroughs in Chinese deep-sea exploration over the past two decades.

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“There are still many unknown places under the sea,” he said, encouraging more Hong Kong students to explore the ocean.

Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, a Hong Kong molecular biologist and winner of the Lasker Award, one of the most prestigious biomedical awards in the US, educated the young audience about the intricacies of genetics and heredity and illuminated how DNA serves as the carrier for passing biological information across generations.

Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, the expert in molecular biology clinical applications, speaks during the  "Master Lectures for Youth: Launching Ceremony for Exploring Hong Kong and Macau" at the Hong Kong Palace Museum on Sept 14, 2023. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Chess grandmaster Xie Jun, a champion of the women's world championship, not only imparted her expertise in the game of chess but also served as a mentor to young individuals, helping them to navigate the complexities of life.

Renowned sculptor Wu Weishan, director of China's National Art Museum, elucidated his philosophy of sculpture through examples of his iconic works. 

His themes always center on outstanding figures who shaped the country, so he aims  to reshape the image of the Chinese in the realm of sculpture, he said, thereby encouraging youth to deepen their knowledge of great historical personalities.

Xie Jun, the women's international grandmaster in chess and the vice-president of Beijing Capital University of Physical Education, speaks during the  "Master Lectures for Youth: Launching Ceremony for Exploring Hong Kong and Macau" at the Hong Kong Palace Museum on Sept 14, 2023. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

An IT professional surnamed Li, who lives in Shenzhen, made a special trip to Hong Kong with his son to attend the talks.

Li said that he hoped to immerse his child, who is in the third grade of primary school, in an enriching learning environment. “I was delighted that my son gleaned insights from the elite speakers,” Li said.

These talks succeeded in sparking young people’s curiosity for knowledge in ways that will nurture their love of discovery, Li added.

Wu Weishan, sculptor and the director of the National Art Museum of China, speaks during the  "Master Lectures for Youth: Launching Ceremony for Exploring Hong Kong and Macau" at the Hong Kong Palace Museum on Sept 14, 2023. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Chan Ka-hei, a student at the Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School, said her favorite part of the event was Wu Xiangping’s talk, which contemplated humanity's place in the vast universe. “It made me rethink the significance of being human,” she said.

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She said she hoped more such events would be staged in future as they can broaden students  horizons and expand their perspectives.

Six-year-old Cheung Ka-chai, a pupil at St Paul's College Primary School, was especially captivated by Ye’s showcase of deep-sea discovery.

“After hearing his talk, I want to become a submersible pilot someday and explore the underwater world,” Cheung said.