Bilingual Editorial: Charles Kao's altruism
雙語社評:光纖革命惠社群 高錕無私堪銘記
文章日期:2018年10月26日

雙語社評齊齊聽

[英語 (足本收聽)] Presented by Ms CHAN, Zoe Ka-ling, Lecturer of Hong Kong Community College, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

[普通話 (足本收聽)] Presented by Dr MAO, Michelle Sheng, Lecturer of Hong Kong Community College, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

 

CHARLES Kao, a Nobel laureate in physics and former vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, has died aged 84. His achievements in academic research and education are remembered by many people, who also pay tribute to his breadth of mind and tolerance. Kao was not only a great scientist, but also an honest, down-to-earth educator.

[ENG audio 1]

Born in Shanghai, Kao developed a passion for science as a child. As a teenager, he moved to Hong Kong with his family and went on to study abroad, returning to Hong Kong only in the 1970s to take up a teaching post. Nevertheless he regarded Hong Kong as his hometown all his life, describing himself as a veritable Hongkonger. In 1966, when Kao was in Britain, he proposed the basic principles of using optical fibre for communication applications, laying the foundations for optical fibre communications. There would not be the internet — let alone today's cyber world — were it not for optical fibre. As "the father of optical fibre", Kao never thought about obtaining a patent for the outcome of his study. He hoped instead the cost of optical fibre would keep coming down until it was free for everyone to connect to the internet. "Had money been the top priority in every matter, optical fibre would not have achieved so much." What Kao said was a testament to his noble and altruistic sentiments. It is indeed an honour for Hong Kong people that such a brilliant scientist came from our city.

[ENG audio 2]

Kao dedicated his life to academic research and education. Undeniably, it is to his credit that the Chinese University of Hong Kong has achieved so much today. When he was the university's vice-chancellor between 1987 and 1996, he established the Faculty of Engineering and Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology one after another, and took an active role in the preparation of the Hong Kong Science Park even after his tenure at the CUHK, showing that he threw himself into Hong Kong's scientific research development. Kao was an amiable man and tended to avoid the limelight. Most teachers and students who were in touch with him described him as friendly, likable, open-minded, willing to listen to other people's views, not putting on airs despite being the university's vice-chancellor, and treating students lovingly. Some have even praised his tolerance towards students, thinking that many university vice-chancellors should learn from him.

[ENG audio 3]

Kao was a humble man of noble character, tirelessly devoted to education. He was a role model for all educators. But it must also be said that there is a world of difference between today's political atmosphere and that of the 1990s. If Kao were a university vice-chancellor today, he might be on the horns of a dilemma and feel hamstrung too facing wave after wave of political storms on campuses.

[ENG audio 4]

Kao was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics in 2009, the greatest recognition of his achievements. Lamentably, by then he had already been suffering from Alzheimer's disease and was not able to feel the honour fully. After Kao passed away, his wife said that his foundation would continue to help patients of Alzheimer's disease in accordance with his wish. As Hong Kong's population is ageing and a silver tsunami is expected in 10 years' time, the number of Alzheimer's disease patients is likely to increase significantly. The best way for the government to remember Kao is by devoting a huge amount of resources to supporting Alzheimer's disease patients and their families.

[ENG audio 5]

光纖革命惠社群 高錕無私堪銘記

諾貝爾物理學獎得主、中文大學前校長高錕離世,享年84歲,不少人追思他在學術和教育方面的貢獻,稱頌他的胸襟和寬容。高錕是偉大的科學家,也是敦厚樸實的教育工作者。

[PTH audio 1]

高錕生於上海,自小熱中科學,10多歲隨家人移居香港,後來負笈海外,直到1970年才返回香港執起教鞭,然而他始終視香港為家,形容自己是名副其實的香港人。1966年,高錕在英國提出光導纖維在通訊應用方面的基本原理,為光纖通訊奠下基礎,倘若沒有光纖,不會有互聯網,也不會有現今的網絡世界。高錕身為「光纖之父」,從沒想過為研究成果申請專利,還希望光纖成本不斷降低,未來人人免費上網。「如果事事以金錢為重,一定不會有今日光纖的成果。」高錕兩句說話,映照出他高尚無私的情操。香港能有一位如此傑出的科學家,實屬港人榮幸。

[PTH audio 2]

高錕一生致力學術研究和教育,中大能有今天的成績,高錕功不可沒。他在1987至1996年出任中大校長,先後為中大成立工程學院及香港生物科技研究院,卸任後又積極參與香港科學園籌備工作,為本港科研發展盡心盡力。高錕作風低調隨和,接觸過他的師生,大都形容他為人友善可親,作風開明願聽意見,不擺校長架子,相當愛護學生。部分人更大讚高錕對學生的包容,認為現在很多大學校長都應該向高錕學習。

[PTH audio 3]

高錕是謙謙君子,與人為善,孜孜不倦作育英才,為所有教育工作者留下好榜樣,不過話得說回來,現今香港社會政治氛圍,跟1990年代實有天淵之別,設若時空轉移,現在由高錕出任本港大學校長,面對校園一浪接一浪的政治風波,恐怕一樣進退維谷,再難游刃有餘。

[PTH audio 4]

2009年高錕獲頒諾貝爾物理學獎,是對其貢獻的最大肯定,可惜當年他已患上腦退化症,未能充分體會這份榮耀。高錕去世後,妻子表示將按丈夫遺願,透過慈善基金繼續幫助腦退化病人。本港人口老化,10年後將迎來「高齡海嘯」,腦退化症患者勢將顯著增加,政府若能大力投入資源支援腦退化症患者及家屬,將是對高錕最佳的悼念。

[PTH audio 5]

明報社評2018.09.25

Bilingual Editorial