Authorities hope for call between Lai Ka-ying and locals

Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong says authorities will strive to arrange a direct call from space to earth between the city's first payload specialist Lai Ka-ying and local residents in the next one to two months.

Sun says the call is currently being arranged by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and the China Manned Space Agency, adding many local youngsters and uniformed groups have expressed their desire to speak with Lai.

Sun notes many universities in the city are currently participating in research work related to Mars, with the government and universities having jointly established a number of platforms aimed at attracting international talent in the field.