‘He made you feel the great man in the room was you’: colleagues and friends reflect on modesty and genius of Nobel laureate Professor Charles Kao Kuen

Chinese University of Hong Kong committee meets to discuss funeral arrangements as tributes continue to flow for ‘father of fibre optics’

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A memorial corner set up at Chinese University on Monday saw a constant flow of professors, students and other admirers come to leave their condolences. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 7:19pm, 24 Sep 2018Updated: 4:40pm, 7 Oct 2018

A committee met at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on Monday to discuss funeral arrangements for physics Nobel laureate and former vice chancellor Professor Charles Kao Kuen, as tributes continued to pour in for the late scientist, who died on Sunday at the age of 84.

Committee members said they would follow the wishes of Kao’s wife of 60 years, Gwen Kao Wong May-wan.

Chemistry professor Jimmy Yu Chai-mei said Gwen Kao had shared with him several ideas for a memorial service.

“When a person as important and internationally renowned as Kao passes away, lots of careful planning is needed,” said Yu, a close friend of the Kaos.

Flowers and a picture of Kao were placed on a long white table at the University Gallery along with a condolence book. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Charles Kao, whose seminal work on fibre optics laid the groundwork for the development of modern communications, was on Monday remembered by colleagues and students as a visionary and amiable man who contributed immensely to the city’s science and technology industry.