Lunar soil on display in Hong Kong
??Photo taken on June 25, 2021 shows lunar soil displayed in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
??Lunar soil brought back by China's moon mission is on display at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. The exhibition, open to the public from June 27 to July 9, also features items and articles of Chinese scientists over the last 100 years to show their inspiring stories.
??HONG KONG, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Lunar soil brought back by China's moon mission was on display Saturday in Hong Kong.
??The sample, currently exhibited at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, was picked up from the moon in December 2020 by the Chang'e-5 lunar probe, the first lunar collection back to Earth in more than 40 years. The probe returned with 1,731 grams of lunar soil.
??The exhibition, open to the public from June 27 to July 9, also features items and articles of Chinese scientists over the last 100 years to show their inspiring stories.
??Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said it is the first time that lunar soil is displayed in Hong Kong at the inauguration ceremony of the exhibition.
??Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam (R1), chief designer for Shenzhou spaceships Qi Faren (R2) visit the exhibition of lunar soil in Hong Kong, south China, June 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)
??With national scientists visiting Hong Kong and the display of lunar soil, Hong Kong will be inspired to make greater contributions to the country's space technology development, a new area of the implementation of "one country, two systems," she said.
??Hong Kong has strong basic research capability and has been contributing to various technology development of the country, Lam said, citing the Hong Kong Polytechnic University's participation in the Chang'e mission to the moon and Mars exploration program.
??Lam expected more technological cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong under "one country, two systems."
??The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has become a major platform for building an international technology and innovation center, and Hong Kong and Shenzhen are going all-out to build a technological cooperation zone, she said.
??Officials and space scientists attended Saturday's event, including Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Tan Tieniu, chief designer for Shenzhou spaceships Qi Faren, chief designer of Long March rockets Long Lehao, and chief designer of the third stage of the national lunar exploration program Hu Hao.
??The event was part of a series of activities starting Wednesday where top space scientists of the country went to Hong Kong universities and middle schools to give lectures and meet students. ?