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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the opening ceremony of the exhibition "The Lore of a Laureate: A Tribute to Charles Kao, Former CUHK Vice-Chancellor and Nobel Laureate" at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) today (February 5):
Professor and Mrs Kao, Vincent (Dr Vincent Cheng, Council Chairman of CUHK), Professor Wah (Professor Benjamin Wah, Acting Vice-Chancellor of CUHK), Sir James (Professor Sir James A Mirrlees, Distinguished Professor-at-Large of CUHK and Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences), Professor Yang (Professor Yang Chen Ning, Distinguished Professor-at-Large of CUHK and Nobel Laureate in Physics), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to join you all this morning. It is also a great honour to have Professor and Mrs Kao with us today. A warm welcome back to Hong Kong to both of you.
First and foremost, let me extend my congratulations to Professor Kao on receiving the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics. It is worthy recognition of your outstanding work and immense contribution to scientific research in optical fibre. I also commend the Chinese University of Hong Kong on its initiative in celebrating Professor Kao's success and achievements through a series of events. They are a fitting tribute to Professor Kao.
Professor Kao is returning to Hong Kong for the first time as a Nobel Laureate. I am delighted that so many of his friends and colleagues are here to welcome him "home" and enjoy this remarkable occasion. Your presence here is a testament to the success of Professor Kao's career and to the respect he commands among his peers and indeed the people of Hong Kong.
The title of this exhibition: "The Lore of a Laureate: A Tribute to Charles Kao, Former CUHK Vice-Chancellor and Nobel Laureate" is appropriate and inspiring.
I first came to know Professor Kao when he joined Chinese University as the Vice-Chancellor in 1987. He won the respect of colleagues and students alike by keeping the channels of communication open, promoting academic freedom and building the institution's strengths as a research-oriented university. The University made great strides during Professor Kao's nine-year tenure thanks to his unswerving commitment to education.
Today, Professor Kao's reputation extends way beyond that of professor or even vice-chancellor. He has been internationally renowned as the "Father of Fibre Optics" and is now a Nobel Laureate. His work has fundamentally transformed lives and the way we learn, play, communicate and conduct business.
Equally important, Professor Kao's achievements and commitment have inspired young scientists to dedicate themselves to pushing the boundaries of scientific research. His Nobel Prize also raises public awareness of the importance of innovation, scientific research and the development of technology.
I am pleased that Hong Kong has been able to keep up with the advancements in information and communications technology and I encourage young people to consider Professor Kao as a role model in continuing the technological advances and maintain our city's position as an innovation and technology hub. To remind our coming generations of the personal achievements of Professor Kao in science and his contribution to Hong Kong, the SAR Government has decided to name in his honour a modern architectural element of the Hong Kong Science Park as "Charles K Kao Auditorium". We are very pleased that Professor and Mrs Kao have agreed to attend the naming ceremony in early March.
Once again, congratulations to Professor Kao on your Nobel Prize in Physics and a heartfelt thank you to the Chinese University of Hong Kong for organising this exhibition.
I wish Professor and Mrs Kao a most enjoyable stay in Hong Kong and the exhibition a very big success.
Thank you very much.
Ends/Friday, February 5, 2010
Issued at HKT 13:22
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