(QI HENG)

Charles Kao Kuen, the laureate of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics, has been awarded a Grand Bauhinia Medal, Hong Kong's highest honor.

Kao, 77, is widely regarded as the "father of fiber optics." His innovation was pivotal to the establishment of the information superhighway that laid the foundation for today's global network community.

Kao also played a key role in promoting research and shaping the landscape of Hong Kong's higher education during his tenure at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) as well as the establishing of the Hong Kong Science Park. He first joined CUHK in 1970-74, when he founded the Department of Electronics, which later became the Department of Electronic Engineering. From 1987 to 1996, he was vice chancellor of CUHK.