When taking a question from the audience at PolyU about opportunities in the nation's space projects for young people in Hong Kong, Qi, 88, an aerospace scholar, said young students and researchers from Hong Kong are welcome to participate in national projects.

He added that young people in Hong Kong can propose scientific experiments to be carried out aboard China's space station once it is completed.

During the lecture at the University of Hong Kong, which was attended by about 100 students and researchers, Hu said Hong Kong universities were welcome to join in researching samples collected from the moon's surface, adding that he is hopeful the institutions can help the nation cultivate more aerospace talent.