The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), will host the World Ophthalmology Congress 2008 and Evolution – Asia Yoga Conference in June and July 2008.

The World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) 2008 will be held from 28 June to 2 July, the first time in Hong Kong since its inception in 1857.

Evolution - Asia Yoga Conference, the second edition of the premier annual yoga conference in Asia, will be held from 3 to 6 July.  

“The World Ophthalmology Congress and Evolution - Asia Yoga Conference are distinguished conferences. We are glad that Hong Kong is chosen as the host city. We have international connections, experience, global outlook, excellent logistical and venue support, and convenient transportation and telecommunication facilities that are necessary for a successful MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition) event. We wish these two events great success and look forward to extending our warmest hospitality to the conference participants,” said Mr Frederick Ma, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.

The WOC is a world leading biennial ophthalmology event to help facilitate improved treatments that will benefit millions of individuals suffering from eye diseases.

More than 1,000 faculty members and 10,000 delegates from over 110 countries are expected to participate in the WOC 2008. The scientific programme will offer ophthalmologists an exceptional opportunity to exchange their ideas and the latest advancements in the field, and further expand their networks and forge future collaboration.  

Utilising almost all meeting space at the HKCEC, the five-day congress will feature 1,140 prominent international speakers in 314 scientific sessions covering 28 subspecialty areas in ophthalmology. The WOC 2008 is expecting more than 3,000 participants from Mainland China, a record figure of the congress history.    

“We are honoured to bring this prestigious ophthalmology congress to Hong Kong. The strategic location of Hong Kong and the award-winning HKCEC have all the important elements that will help make this a fruitful congress,” said Professor Dennis Lam, President and Organising Committee Chairman of the WOC 2008.

“Throughout the bidding and preparation process, we experience the best service of a world-class city and top professionals. The capacity, multi-functional space and expertise in event and catering service of the HKCEC answer the entire demanding requirements of the WOC. The international delegates will surely benefit from the first-class scientific programmes and enjoy what Hong Kong and the HKCEC offer.”

Evolution, the largest annual yoga conference in Asia, is dedicated to promoting the general understanding of yoga and to serving the growing interest in the sport in the region.

Building on the success of the debut conference held in 2007 attended by more than 2,000 delegates, Evolution is expecting 3,500 yoga lovers from around the world to take part in this year’s event. 

Evolution hosts an esteemed Faculty comprising the world’s most renowned yoga masters who will teach over 160 classes catered for a diverse range of yoga practitioners with different interests and abilities. 

“As Asia’s most vibrant world city, Hong Kong perfectly reflects our ambition to extend yoga’s reach throughout this region by bringing some of the most respected teachers from all over the globe to one event,” said Mr Colin Grant, CEO of Asia Yoga Conference Limited.