Hong Kong will see drones in the air as early as next month in a pilot scheme for developing a “low-altitude economy,” the city’s transport chief has said.Chief Executive John Lee and Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan attend a launch ceremony of a pilot drone scheme at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on March 3, 2025. Photo: GovHK.
The government announced on Thursday that it had approved 38 out of 72 applications for employing drones in a variety of commercial activities and public services, ranging from food and medicine delivery to emergency and rescue missions in remote areas.The “low-altitude economy,” which refers to economic activities in airspace below 1,000 metres, is a development strategy Chief Executive John Lee introduced in his 2024 Policy Address.Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Thursday that some operators would begin testing their drones in April and that the first phase of the pilot scheme would last six months.
“We have incorporated the experience of employing drones in mainland China and innovations in Hong Kong, including safety and other security measures,” she told reporters in Cantonese after a launch ceremony of the pilot scheme at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).Lee said during the ceremony that the pilot scheme had ushered in “the era for low-altitude economy,” adding that drones could be used to unlock commercial growth.Chief Executive John .
