Nobel Prize winner and Chinese University presidents past and present among group organising funeral for Charles Kao, Hong Kong’s father of fibre optics

Obituary in today’s Post lists famous scientist’s funeral for Monday, with public wake on Sunday in North Point, while fellow physics prize recipient Yang Chen-ning is one of 37 on committee

Reading Time:2 minutes

Professor Charles Kao leaves behind his wife, Gwen Kao, children Simon and Amanda, and three grandchildren. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 4:22pm, 2 Oct 2018Updated: 4:39pm, 7 Oct 2018

Five former and serving Chinese University presidents, and a Nobel Physics Prize winner, are among the 37-strong funeral committee for Nobel laureate Professor Charles Kao Kuen, according to obituaries published in several newspapers on Tuesday.

Notices in the South China Morning Post, Sing Tao Daily and Ta Kung Pao, announced that the public wake will be from 3pm to 5pm on Sunday, on the first floor of the Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point.

After 5pm, friends and relatives can continue to pay their respects. The funeral itself will take place at 10.30am on Monday.

Chinese University vice-chancellor Rocky Tuan will chair the funeral committee. Photo: David Wong

Kao died on September 23, aged 84, after battling Alzheimer’s disease for more than a decade.

Known for his groundbreaking achievements involving the transmission of light in fibres for optical communication, Kao won a joint Nobel Prize in Physics in 2009, the Faraday Medal in 1989, and the Alexander Graham Bell Medal in 1985.

He also contributed extensively to Hong Kong’s higher education sector, serving both as a researcher and the third vice chancellor for Chinese University.