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The way visiting physicist Professor Stephen Hawking saw life and his knowledge of science were a great source of inspiration and encouragement to mankind, the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, said today (June 16).
Mr Tsang's remarks were made when he met Professor Hawking at Government House this afternoon.
Thanking the professor for visiting Hong Kong, the Chief Executive said his exemplary performance in physics and his strong will to fight against ill health had greatly inspired Hong Kong people, especially youngsters.
Mr Tsang extended his heartfelt welcome to Professor Hawking who accepted an invitation to visit Hong Kong again.
Professor Hawking said Hong Kong was wonderful and full of energy and he would never forget Hong Kong or its people.
The Chief Executive had earlier asked Professor Hawking two questions and the answers are as follows:
Question: A few years ago you said that there was a 50:50 chance that someone would discover the holy grail of physics – a Theory of Everything – that will read the mind of God. What is your assessment now?
Answer: We now think we know the shape of the ultimate Theory of Everything. We call it M theory. However, M theory is not a single theory, but a whole collection of theories, that are all different approximations to the same theory, in the limit that some quantity or other is small. These theories may look very different, and even have different numbers of spacetime dimensions, but they predict the same results in regions where their domains of validity overlap, so they are part of the same theory. It does not seem possible to formulate the underlying theory as a single set of equations, but only as a set of better and better approximations. So we will never reach the end of our quest, for a complete understanding of the universe. In a way, I am glad. Science, after finding the ultimate theory, would be like mountaineering after Everest. The human race needs an intellectual challenge. It must be boring to be God, and have nothing left to discover.
Question: As a government what can we do to inspire the children of Hong Kong to take a keen interest in science.
Answer: I would suggest a number of measures to encourage children in Hong Kong to take more interest in science. Start by offering bursaries in high school and university. Organise a science Olympiad for high school children. Invite prominent scientists to give popular lectures in Hong Kong. And fund more research and teaching posts in Hong Kong universities, so the very good students you have had in the past, will stay in Hong Kong, rather than go elsewhere.
Ends/Friday, June 16, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:45
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