Hong Kong Business News

The Government today launched a first batch of 38 low-altitude economy (LAE) Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects.

The Working Group on Developing LAE approved the 38 projects after reviewing 72 project proposals. They cover a wide range of fields and application scenarios, including emergency and rescue, logistics and distribution, inspections and safety maintenance, surveillance, and low-altitude infrastructure.

The projects are being implemented by enterprises, research institutes, public utilities and government departments.

Officiating at today’s launch event, Chief Executive John Lee said: “The LAE is one of our nation’s strategic emerging industries, as well as the example in exploring new quality productive forces.”

He outlined that the LAE not only gives rise to various emerging industries, but also opens up a wide range of application scenarios with great potential.

“It is set to strengthen city management and business efficiency, and create a whole new experience of smart living for the public, making it an important growth engine for the economy.

“The Government will unleash the potential of the LAE by bringing together research and development outcomes and corporate efforts, taking forward the LAE in a safe and healthy manner to make Hong Kong a pioneer in the emerging new quality productive forces industry of the LAE, creating a new era of a ‘smart sky’.”

Also speaking at the launch, Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan said the sandbox projects will help to accumulate experience and data, thereby allowing the Government to devise comprehensive infrastructure support for the execution of LAE activities.

“With the launch of the various sandbox projects from April, and in the coming months ahead, we really hope that the society, and members of the public, will visualise the projects and they can even touch these projects.

“And we would like to hope that with all these projects launching, we would incorporate the innovation and technology into our daily lives”

She added that the Government plans to amend existing regulations with regard to low-altitude drones. Weight limits will be increased, allowing heavier and more sophisticated drones to be used.

The Government also plans to introduce a special provision enabling the Director-General of Civil Aviation to allow trials of more sophisticated and heavier low-altitude equipment, including models which can carry passengers.

A number of organisations conducting pilot projects had booths at the event to showcase their application scenarios and other features. A logo specifically designed for the LAE Regulatory Sandbox was also unveiled.