HONG KONG : The computer and mobile phone, were voted the top two inventions of the 20^th century, in a Hong Kong survey. Also high on the list were the air-conditioner, the television and the refrigerator – all of which ranked higher than the silicon chip and fibre optics. The top 10 list was compiled by the Intellectual Property Department and Hong Kong Inventors’ Association, as a way of increasing public awareness of Intellectual Property Rights. More than 3,000 people were asked to pick their favorite. 10 inventions, from a shortlist of 50. The computer came out on top, winning a majority 2566 votes. Second was the mobile phone with 2075 votes, and the airplane came in third with 2,000 votes. Television ranked fourth, followed by the air conditioner, the satellite, the refrigerator, the rocket, fibre optics and finally the silicon chip. In 1999, a total of 88 patents were granted to Hong Kong inventions – a 30 per cent increase on 1998 figures, when 67 were granted, according to Peter Cheung, deputy director of the Intellectual Property Department.