Meeting of the minds: Chief Executive Donald Tsang asks Stephen Hawking when science might uncover the holy grail of physics.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang welcomed the world's most popular scientist to Government House today, and thanked Professor Stephen Hawking for inspiring Hong Kong people - especially its youngsters.

"You have inspired every one of us here and we have never had a scientist as eminent as yourself coming to tell us, and share with us, your insights about the universe. We are indeed very honoured that you've come," Mr Tsang told Prof Hawking.

The astrophysicist and author of the best-selling A Brief History of Time, Black Holes & Baby Universes & Other Essays and The Universe in a Nutshell is on a six-day visit to Hong Kong, ahead of an academic conference in Beijing.

Yesterday, the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge gave a standing-room-only lecture on the origins of the universe at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology. Several hundred members of the audience were physically handicapped, there to draw inspiration.

Prof Hawking suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - a debilitating neurological disease that causes muscles to degenerate. He is now confined to a wheelchair and speaks with the aid of a computer that responds to his blinks and generates his now-trademark synthesized voice.

"It was wonderful to have you here and I hope the professor will discover it is a very open city, a very free city, we are the freest economy in the world and we also have a heart and soul," Mr Tsang told his special guest.

After some twitching and computer bleeps, Prof Hawking replied: "It was wonderful. So much energy. Would you like the answer to your questions?"

Advice sought on boosting kids' science quest

Mr Tsang had provided two questions in advance, including what advice Prof Hawking had for the Government, to inspire Hong Kong children to take a keener 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," came the written reply.

"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?" Mr Tsang asked.

Prof Hawking gave a partial oral reply, but the conclusion in his written answer summed up his enthusiasm for his work: "...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."

Hawking accepts invitation to return to HK 

The two exchanged mementoes of their visit. Mr Tsang had admitted finding it tough going to read Prof Hawking's previous books. Prof Hawking's daughter, Lucy, who is accompanying him on the visit, presented the Chief Executive with a copy of A Briefer History of Time, described as "the science classic made more accessible."

For Prof Hawking, Mr Tsang had secured a copy of the now out-of-print Chinese Ancient Star Maps. The original was written 1,700 years ago, to describe how China's scientists had read the stars, named them and drawn them up.

Lucy said she and her father had been delighted by how warm and enthusiastic the response has been to their visit.

"If you come across this part of the world again, do come and visit us. Our young people really love to see you here," Mr Tsang said.

Prof Hawking enthusiastically accepted the invitation. "I will. I have been to China twice before, but not to Hong Kong. Next time I will come here," he said.