A minor planet in the solar system has been named after Professor Charles Kuen Kao, former vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in recognition of his work in optic fibre communication and contribution to Hong Kong's scientific development and exchanges with China.
This is the first time the name of a Hong Kong scientist and educationist has been given to a star.
The 'Kao Kuen Star', originally numbered as 3463, was discovered on December 3, 1981 by the Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
The naming is a special honour. Previously, stars discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory were named after Chinese cities or great Chinese scientists of ancient times. Since 1990, the observatory has been naming stars after personalities who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of science, education, economy and culture.
A world famous authority in communication technology, Professor Kao is principal author of a paper on the use of optical fibre in communication applications, published in 1966. It brought about a revolutionary change in the telecommunication medium, and was a significant step in the new information era.
