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Presenter：Noreen Mir
Focusing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
Good morning, thanks for having this morning. At Orbis, we have a simple belief: protecting vision isn’t just a medical issue; it’s a community responsibility. Every one of us has a part to play in helping others keep sight safe. Today, I’d like to tell you a story - the story of Hong Kong’s aging eyes, and why half of our population may soon face serious vision challenges.
When you think of Hong Kong, what comes to mind? Neon lights, the serene views, the dense forest of skyscrapers. We are a city that sees the world in colour and in movement. But behind that beauty, a silent crisis has been developing among our older population.
In late 2025, Orbis collaborated with the Department of Ophthalmology at HKUMed to release results from the largest community glaucoma-screening project ever done in Hong Kong. The results were a wake-up call, not just for everyone over 50, but for everyone who loves someone over 50.
As we age, our bodies begin to change - gently, and gradually. But within our eyes, something more dangerous starts to happen: the risk of vision-threatening diseases rises sharply after 50.
The three biggest culprits here in Hong Kong are: cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Cataracts are like looking through a frosted dirty window. The world turns cloudy and dim. Thankfully, surgery can restore clear sight.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) attacks your central vision. It’s what you use to read, drive, or recognize a loved one’s face. It may not cause total blindness, but it steals your quality of life.
And then, there’s glaucoma, the silent thief of sight. It creeps in slowly, quietly damaging the optic nerve - the delicate cable that connects the eye to the brain. There’s no pain. No early symptoms. You don’t even know it’s happening… until a quarter of your vision is already gone.
Once those nerve fibers die, they’re gone forever. We can’t bring them back. All we can do is stop more from dying, curb it from getting worse, stop one from becoming blind. For years, we suspected glaucoma was widespread in Hong Kong. But we didn’t know how widespread or common it was - until now.
Over two years, Orbis and HKUMed conducted a project we called Vision Matters. We went into public housing estates, from Southern District, Kwun Tong and Taipo etc, inviting residents aged 50 and above for free, comprehensive eye exams. More than 5,800 people across our city took part.
The results were staggering. We found optic-nerve degeneration in 11.6 percent of participants, and confirmed glaucoma in 6.9 percent of them. For context, that’s higher than previous estimates across the entire Chinese population.
So, what’s going on? Is Hong Kong somehow “sicker”? Not necessarily. In truth, the difference lies in the technology. We were only able to identify these occurrences because of the technology we used. Our study used an AI-powered tool called ROTA to identify at-risk patients. Now, a traditional scan can tell you if your optic nerve - imagine a rope - is getting thinner. But ROTA goes deeper. It shows whether the threads within that rope are beginning to fray. This means it can catch glaucoma damage far earlier, often before patients notice a single symptom.
Currently, if referred to a specialist out-patient clinic, the wait time can be as long as 117 weeks. That is over two years. For glaucoma, two years of waiting means two years of irreversible vision damage.
Here’s how AI integration changes a lot of everything. Because when a doctor spots even the smallest hint of trouble, AI can help flag high-risk patients faster, triage them sooner, push them to the front of the list and make sure they see a specialist in time.
It won’t erase the two-year waiting list overnight, but it could save sight before it’s too late.
Our AI-powered diagnostic system will soon be deployed in Hong Kong West and Kowloon East clusters. And that’s what Orbis does best: bridging innovation and humanity. Around the world, our team ensures that innovation travels faster than distance. The fight against blindness is no longer just about scalpels and predictions. It’s about data and predictions. It’s about catching the thief before it steals your sight.
Through Cybersight AI, a groundbreaking Orbis diagnostic platform, specialist-level eye screening can be “air-dropped” into even the most remote villages. Imagine this: a local nurse in a rural community takes a photo of a patient’s retina. Within seconds, the AI detects early signs of blinding diseases and alerts doctors miles away. That speed and that precision can be the difference between permanent vision loss and a lifetime of sight.
But here’s the truth: technology alone isn’t the hero.
People are. AI is just a tool - one that amplifies the reach of doctors and empowers local health workers. It filters out routine cases, so specialists can focus on the most urgent, life-changing ones.
Yet, even the smartest technology can’t succeed without trust. In Ethiopia, for example, Orbis trains local women as community eye-care workers - women their neighbours already know and trust. In Vietnam, we adapt our workflow to match local customs and patient habits, because technology must fit people, not the other way around.
And through every project, from Hong Kong’s urban neighbourhoods to the world’s most remote corners, one message shines through:
Technology guards vision; trust connects communities.
Together, they build a bridge - from innovation to impact, from city to village, from research to real lives. And that bridge is how Orbis makes sure no one, anywhere in the world, is left in the dark.
We live in a city of dazzling lights. Let's make sure we can all see them, clearly and safely, for years to come.
Presenter：Noreen Mir
Good day to all entrepreneurs, investors, and listeners joining us today!
Time flies. At the wink of an eye, it’s been almost two years since I joined the Hong Kong SAR Government, at Invest Hong Kong, where we support overseas and Mainland Chinese companies, whether you are a startup, or a multinational large corporate, to set up your business and find success in Hong Kong.
To me, this is not just a job. It is my passion. And so, I want to share Hong Kong’s story and to show the world why our city is the best stage to expand your business and realise your dreams.
This year is Invest Hong Kong’s 25th birthday. On this special occasion, I would like to share some reflections.
Before joining the Government, I spent many years in finance and fintech, helping overseas companies enter Asian markets, through providing finance and services. Interestingly, I was once a “client” of Invest Hong Kong myself, when I helped a large Mainland bank set up a their new branch in Hong Kong. Back then, I experienced first‑hand the efficiency, the professional service, and most importantly, the warmth of the team.
Anyone who has tried to start or grow a business knows the challenges: regulations, finding the right partners, finding the right premises, hiring people, finding clients, and countless details and deadlines. Invest Hong Kong guided me and my colleagues through that journey. That experience showed me how critical it is to have an efficient, one‑stop government support platform to support companies entering new markets. Now that I am on the servicing side, I am even more determined that our that invest Hong Kong’s true value lies in “going the extra mile” for our clients.
Many people think our role is just to promote Hong Kong. In reality, it goes far beyond that. I often describe us as the “GPS for businesses.” Hong Kong is already an international finance and business hub. Our job is to help every “driver” — that is, every entrepreneur — to chart the best route, avoid obstacles, and move forward with speed and confidence. We explain the latest market trends, offer tailor‑made “route planning,” connect partners and guide companies through practical steps like setting up in Hong Kong, opening bank accounts, applying for visas and other approvals, understanding regulations, funding and subsidies available, and much more. From office set‑up and R&D partnerships, to talent recruitment and international financing, our goal is simple: make the journey easier so businesses can focus on growth.
To that end, I introduced and personally oversee a cross‑department referral system. The idea is simple: Invest Hong Kong gathers the “pain points” that these companies face when settling here, and we bring relevant bureaus and agencies together to find solutions. I would like to thank my government colleagues for their support. Through their guidance and helping hand, we have helped many companies together – helped them to succeed in Hong Kong, and grow beyond Hong Kong, more smoothly.
The results speak for themselves. From the beginning of 2023 to September this year, we supported over 1,300 companies from overseas and the Mainland in setting up or expanding here. In their first year, these firms brought in more than HK$190 billion in foreign direct investment and created over 20,000 new jobs. InvestHK achieved, ahead of schedule, the target set out in the 2022 Policy Address. These are not just numbers. They are a vote of confidence from each enterprise, and the stories of many new beginnings in this city.
Behind these achievements is a team driven by passion, professionalism, and a can‑do spirit. In our 35 offices around the world, colleagues are constantly connecting partners, solving challenges and unlocking opportunities. Their energy and determination make Invest Hong Kong more than just a department — they make us a true partner in your journey.
Hong Kong itself has a uniquely strong foundation. Even in a complex geopolitical climate, our institutional strengths and core competitiveness stand out. We are a free port with no tariffs; capital, information and people flow freely; our rule of law and common law system remain steady and reliable. These fundamentals make Hong Kong a stable and predictable platform for business in an uncertain world.
The Chief Executive’s Policy Address has reinforced this momentum, setting a clear blueprint to “strive for a vibrant economy, pursue development and improve people’s livelihood.” Invest Hong Kong will continue to turn policies into action by offering customised services, clear incentives, and practical facilitation, including the preferential packages announced in the Policy Address, to attract high-value industries and high-potential enterprises to establish and expand in Hong Kong.
We will support the establishment of the GoGlobal Task Force to help Mainland enterprises go global using Hong Kong as a platform, while also helping international companies to tap into the wider Asian markets. The Northern Metropolis, our new growth of economic growth, also offers vast opportunities, and we will actively promote its potential to overseas and Mainland enterprises.
Beyond being a great place to do business, Hong Kong is a city where people can truly enjoy life. Speaking personally, after work, I enjoy a nice meal with friends, on weekends I love hiking on our green hills, enjoying our beaches. Many are surprised to learn that in this mega financial centre, from the central business district, you can reach a mountain trail or the sea in just about 20 minutes. That is the Hong Kong I love: a city where dreams can be pursued, and life can be enjoyed to the full.
As Invest Hong Kong celebrates our 25th birthday — a milestone that signifies both the legacy we have built and a new starting point for the journey ahead. I want to once again, give a heartfelt thank you to every entrepreneur who has chosen Hong Kong and placed your trust in us, and in our city. Your belief, your drive, and your success the greatest force powering the city, and me, forward.
Challenges and opportunities will always come hand in hand. But with dedication, professionalism and innovation, Invest Hong Kong will continue to walk with you to write the next success chapter — for you, for your business, and for Hong Kong.
At the heart of this journey is trust, partnership and support — values we hold close, and values that define Hong Kong as a place to belong.
