The computer was voted the most popular invention in the 20th century in an election.
The Most Popular Inventions in the 20th Century Among Hong Kong People, organised by the Intellectual Property Department and Hong Kong Inventors' Association, aimed to motivate innovative inventions and promote a technological culture.
Participants were asked to select 10 out of 50 shortlisted inventions which were considered the most important.
The computer, which won votes from 84 per cent of the 3,071 voters, was voted the most popular invention, followed by the mobile phone, aircraft, television, air-conditioner, satellite, refrigerator, rocket, fibre optics and silicon chip.
Deputy Director of Intellectual Property Peter Cheung Kam-fai said the computer topped the election because of its strong influence on people's daily life and economic values.
Officiating at the presentation ceremony, Professor Charles Kao Kuen, former vice- chancellor of the Chinese University who is now chairman and chief executive officer of Transtech Services, encouraged creativity. Professor Kao, who invented fibre optics and earned the name of 'father of fibre optics', said people should come up with new ideas to fuel inventions.
