Most people dismiss studies of UFOs and extra-terrestrials (ETs) as nothing more than pseudo-science based on myths, hearsay and wild imaginations, but Don Mak Ho-ting, 23, does not agree.

The talkative event organiser believes the issue of aliens and flying saucers needs to be scientifically studied by academics from a wide range of disciplines.

"Most people think UFOs and ETs are nothing more than science-fiction plots. Most of the talk about aliens is confined to playful jokes about their funny-looking appearances. Instead of being make-believe and lacking any scientific evidence, the study of aliens is a serious academic pursuit spanning subjects like physics and astrology," said Mr Mak, one of the members of the Hong Kong UFO Club. He was a guest speaker on a local radio programme about supernatural beings for two years.

This Sunday, members of the club are holding a UFO conference, Invisible Residents, in Mong Kok, to bring the issue to the attention of the public.

The conference will be hosted by UFO researcher Neil Gould who claims to have had numerous encounters with aliens since his first alleged contact with the "baby-faced and big-eyed" creatures in South Africa when he was nine years old.

The conference will revolve around exopolitics - the study of the key individuals, political institutions and processes associated with extraterrestrial life. It will feature analyses of alleged "invisible residences" - places where they claim ETs live outside of the galaxies - weird things on Earth, like the Bermuda Triangle mystery and evidence and testimonials about UFO sightings around the world.

Hong Kong-based Mr Gould talked about a host of conspiracy theories about the "media truth embargo" spearheaded by the US government.

"The US government has shot down many flying saucers. There are 58 species of ETs. They withhold the information and evidence from the public.

"Instead of relying on hearsay evidence, we have testimony of whistle-blowers from the military intelligence services and astronauts as concrete proof," said Mr Gould who was born in South Africa.

"We have demanded the US government open up their UFO files. In spite of the massive cover-up, there are many government insiders who have seen an alien spacecraft or have had experiences with aliens and are ready to spill the beans," said Mr Gould who runs a website exopoliticshongkong. com.

Mr Gould, who has written a book Close Encounter of the ADHD Type detailing his alleged ET sightings including one above the IFC in 2000, takes pains to show exopolitics is different from the inane and gossipy public discussions of aliens.

"Most people are just interested in physical evidence like the aliens' appearance. Things like UFO sightings or encounters with ETs are, in fact, nothing new. We are more concerned about how the issue relates to human evolution, science and geopolitics," he said.

It is these serious discussions that interest the young members of the Hong Kong UFO Club.

Kevin Wu Man-leung, 25, shares Mr Mak's enthusiasm for aliens.

"I have always been intrigued by all things mysterious. The Earth only constitutes an infinitesimal part of the solar system. With so many things beyond our ken and reach, why jump to the conclusion that ETs and UFOs are unscientific gibberish," said Mr Wu who joined the club a year ago.

Just as Mr Wu and Mr Mak, 19-year-old Yan Chin-wing would rather err on the side of credulity than dismiss the whole study as pseudo-science.

"People tend to only believe in the things they see. But there are so many unknown things in the world. Is it not better to be more open to possibilities?" said Mr Yan.

Exopolitics: Invisible Residents will be held from 3-6pm this Sunday at 3/F Prosperity Centre, 982 Canton Road, Mong Kok. Admission fee is $30HK. For inquiries, call 8207 0990 or visit www.ufo.org.hk

Alien Alert

Aliens apparently also visit the city. The Hong Kong Observatory has logged reports of UFO sightings since 1984, with as many as 40 such reports received each year. One of the most famous alleged contacts happened in 1987 when a spaceship the size of six football pitches was reported flying in Aberdeen.