HONG KONG, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Lunar soil brought back by China's moon mission was on display Saturday in Hong Kong.

The sample, currently exhibited in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, was picked up from the moon in December 2020 by the Chang'e-5 lunar probe, the first lunar collection back to Earth in more than 40 years. The probe returned with 1,731 grams of lunar soil.

The exhibition, open to the public from June 27 to July 9, also features items and articles of Chinese scientists over the last 100 years to show their inspiring stories.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said it is the first time that lunar soil is displayed in Hong Kong at the inauguration ceremony of the exhibition, adding that Hong Kong can make new contributions to the cause of national space technology.

Officials and space scientists attended Saturday's event, including Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Tan Tieniu, chief designer for Shenzhou spaceships Qi Faren, chief designer of Long March rockets Long Lehao, and chief designer of the third stage of the national lunar exploration program Hu Hao.