Sustainable Living Hong Kong

They would leave him alone rather than subject him to all these senseless parades.

Leave him in peace, in the private and familiar company of his family, where he can feel at ease.

Prof Kao’s achievements are beyond doubt, but what the exhibition and all the important people falling over each other to shake his hand or applaud him say is not about him at all. Rather, it’s about the hoard basking in someone else’s glory, and the dearth of significant achievements emanating from Hong Kong.

A place that regularly churns out world-class research would have regarded Prof Kao’s Nobel Prize with pride rather than excessive jubilation. Consider, also, the fact that his research was conducted during his time in the US and the UK, not Hong Kong. He was vice chancellor of Chinese University, but it wasn’t for that that he was awarded the Nobel. Sure, his former colleagues are happy for him, particularly as he’s a universally acknowledged nice gentleman, but wouldn’t it have been more considerate to simply let him know that, and that an exhibition has been set up in his honour, rather than haul him in front of hoards of strangers? Given Prof Kao’s condition, isn’t it more disrespectful than otherwise to put him through such charades?

And if the powers that be are so proud of Prof Kao’s achievements, shouldn’t they also reflect on how little research funding is provided to those who are eager to follow his example?