Hong Kong to allow drone trials with higher payloads to boost low-altitude economy
Laws and regulations are being amended to promote the development of the low-altitude economy, deputy financial secretary says
The Hong Kong government plans to permit more businesses to test higher-capacity aerial vehicles, aiming to boost the low-altitude economy and assess their impact on logistics efficiency and traffic, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun said.
“Amendments to local laws and regulations to promote the development of the low-altitude economy are in the works,” he said. One of the key points of the amended laws would be to allow higher payloads, which would result in more such drones being allowed to operate, he added.
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Flying taxis, airships and drones: the rise of China's low-altitude economy
“Some of the businesses will be highly successful after they are commercialised, while some will not,” Wong said.
Hong Kong launched a sandbox project to support the low-altitude economy – businesses operating aerial vehicles below 1,000 metres – last November, which was aimed at testing airspace operations and infrastructure, as well as developing policies and regulatory guidelines for the so-called eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) industry.