Speech by SCST at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Science Museum's special exhibition "Science Fiction: Voyage to the Edge of Imagination" (English only)
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Dr Knights (Deputy Director of the Science Museum, London, Dr Julia Knights), Professor Ching (Chairman of Science Sub-committee, Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Ching Pak-chung), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. Welcome to the opening ceremony of the special exhibition, "Science Fiction: Voyage to the Edge of Imagination".
Just a fortnight ago, I was delighted to have officiated at the opening ceremony of the China Manned Space Exhibition, which showcased our country's remarkable breakthroughs and achievements in the pursuit of space exploration. The 30-year-long pursuit was inspired by human imagination and dream of the outer space.
Also driven by imagination, science fiction can play a part in boosting scientific and technological innovations as well. In recent years, Chinese science fiction has gained wider popularity and recognition across the globe. The World Science Fiction Convention, a prestigious and long-standing sci-fi event, was held in Chengdu, China, this year, attracting over 20 000 participants.
Science fictions help nurture curiosity, ignite one's imagination, and inspire future generations to push the boundaries of knowledge and understanding. The growing popularity of science fiction will spark young people's interest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) and inspire them to pursue careers in science and technology, thereby contributing to our country's strategic development and the growth of Hong Kong's innovation and technology ecosystem.
This extraordinary exhibition will immerse visitors in interactive science fiction narratives and will also uncover fascinating connections between significant scientific innovations and celebrated science fiction works. The exhibits will interweave science, arts, movies and literature, appealing not just to science fans but also movie buffs as well as art and literature lovers.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the Science Museum Group for bringing this fantastic and inspiring exhibition to Hong Kong, following the success of the exhibition "Robots: The 500-year Quest to Make Machines Human" in 2020. I look forward to further collaboration in the years to come, and I wish this exhibition every success. Thank you very much.
Ends/Thursday, December 14, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:15
Issued at HKT 17:15
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