A seamless airspace is essential for developing Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy and will depend on a collaborative ecosystem, the transport chief has said, citing the city’s strengths in high-value-added services and regulatory expertise, alongside the Greater Bay Area’s industrial and research capabilities.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Tuesday that a comprehensive action plan for developing the new industry was under way to integrate manned and unmanned aviation. She made the remarks at Airspace Asia Pacific 2025, a global conference held in Hong Kong for the first time.
Director general of the Air Traffic Management Bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China Miao Xuan described the Greater Bay Area as the world’s largest innovation cluster, home to major technology firms including Huawei and DJI.
“Moving forward, we will further strengthen both infrastructure and the connection between regulatory frameworks filling high quality and high level manufacturing and technology innovation,” he said.
Hong Kong is advancing its low-altitude economy by transforming airspace below 1,000 metres into a key economic driver. The city has launched a three‑phase initiative, with regulatory sandbox trials in March showing the potential of unmanned services, cutting cross‑sea medical delivery times by 60 per cent.
The latest phase, launched last month and known as “Regulatory Sandbox X”, extends into more complex scenarios such as cross-boundary low-altitude drone operations and passenger-carrying aircraft. An action plan is expected to be rolled out by the end of next year.
“Seamless airspace cannot be achieved in isolation. Hong Kong, with its strengths as an international financial centre and a hub for legal and insurance services, is mobilising capital and risk management solutions for the entire industry,” she said, adding the Greater Bay Area was an integral part.