Hong Kong to help low-altitude economy take flight with legal shake-up, drone trial runs
City leader John Lee also discusses aviation in latest policy address, reveals third runway to be completed this year
Hong Kong will launch a spate of pilot projects next year and amend legislation to develop a “low-altitude economy”, while authorities are aiming to attract more transiting air passengers by doubling the size of its “Airport City” plan to offer more leisure and shopping opportunities.
The airport’s third runway would also be completed this year, with its capacity set to increase by 50 per cent by 2035, city leader John Lee Ka-chiu said in his annual policy address on Wednesday.
On the low-altitude economy front, he said a working group led by Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun would devise development strategies and action plans for projects focusing on the emerging field.
The low-altitude economy generally refers to activities in airspace below 1,000 metres (3,281 feet), including goods delivered by drones or passenger flights using electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
“It will designate specific venues for such purposes, draw up regulations and design the institutional set-up, and study and map out plans to develop the required infrastructure and networks,” Lee said.
The pilot projects would explore the use of drones for deliveries, surveys, building maintenance, aerial photography, performances, and search and rescue purposes, he said.
