HONG KONG, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Charles Kao, widely regarded as the "Father of Fiber Optic Communications," said he never expected to receive the honor of a Nobel Prize, according to a bulletin released on Tuesday by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) where he served as vice-chancellor.

    Kenneth Young, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, quoted the response of Charles Kao towards receiving the Nobel prize.

    "I am absolutely speechless and never expected such an honor. The Nobel has never been given out for applied sciences before. This is very unexpected. Fiber Optics has changed the world of information so much in these last forty years. It certainly is due to the fiber optical networks that the news has traveled so fast."

    Kao was awarded half of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics for "groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication."

    Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Chief Executive Donald Tsang on Tuesday congratulated Charles Kao who won the 2009Nobel Prize in Physics.

    "The Nobel Prize in Physics is the highest honor in the field of science. Hong Kong people and I extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof Kao on receiving the honor," Tsang said.

    Kao was the Chinese University's vice-chancellor from 1987 to 1996.