Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 25):

Question:

     Hong Kong is pressing ahead with the promotion of low-altitude economy (LAE), which is one of the growth engines of new quality productive forces. The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address the establishment of the "Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy" and the introduction of a series of measures to unlock the low-altitude airspace as a new production factor for our economy. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as there are views that Hong Kong can contribute its scientific research strengths in LAE, and three local universities have established their LAE research centres, will the Government consider allocating additional resources to support the research and development work related to LAE, and establish a scientific research fund for LAE to provide funding and support for relevant scientific research projects;

(2) as there are views pointing out that low-altitude technology can effectively enhance the efficiency of urban management, will the Government take the lead in promoting and encouraging various departments to make full use of low-altitude technology, and establish a shared drone inspection system for use and data sharing by different departments to enhance governance efficacy; and

(3) whether it will step up efforts to admit and nurture low-altitude professional talents, including improving the relevant curriculum system, admitting and nurturing teaching staff, and enhancing industry awareness, etc, and establish a mutual recognition mechanism with Mainland LAE talents, thereby building a LAE talent pool?

Reply:

President,

     The Government attaches great importance to the development of low-altitude economy (LAE) and is adopting a multi-pronged strategy to build a smart LAE ecosystem. At the application level, we are promoting breakthrough applications of unmanned aircraft technology across various sectors through the implementation of Regulatory Sandbox (Sandbox) pilot projects. On the regulatory front, the Government is proactively taking forward legislative amendments to not only expand the regulatory scope for unmanned aircraft, but also create legal possibility for trials of passenger-carrying aircraft. The proposed legislative amendments have been tabled to the Legislative Council for scrutiny, with the target to take effect on July 18 this year.

     All relevant bureaux and departments have been communicating closely to establish an overarching policy framework, ensuring co-ordinated policies in different aspects, including establishing cross-departmental co-ordination mechanism, providing support to the industry, and fostering talent development. This is to establish Hong Kong as a regional hub for LAE.

     In consultation with the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Civil Aviation Department and relevant departments, the reply to Hon Elizabeth Quat's question is as follows:

(1) The Government has all along been supporting research and development (R&D) in different technology areas through the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) to support local universities, R&D centres and enterprises to conduct R&D in electronics, data transfer and processing, including those related to LAE, through various funding schemes under ITF. Furthermore, the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund (ITVF) aims to encourage and facilitate venture capital investments in local innovation and technology (I&T) start-ups, thereby supporting these enterprises to establish business operations and conduct R&D in Hong Kong. Enterprises in LAE-related industries which meet the eligibility criteria can also benefit from the ITVF. The Government will maintain close communication with local universities and research institutions to explore different forms of support measures for fostering sustainable R&D work in the LAE sector.

(2) Relevant departments are actively taking forward the development of low-altitude infrastructure and exploring innovative models for data sharing and collaborative management, making reference to the latest practices in the Mainland. We will study the sharing of flight routes, real-time flight data, restricted flying zones, geographic information, and 3D geospatial data, etc, and apply them to diverse uses such as airspace management, weather forecasting, and surveillance.

     At the same time, the government has commenced a technical study on LAE facilities, including the functions of low-altitude traffic management systems and related supporting facilities. On this basis, we will explore the feasibility of sharing low-altitude data through a unified platform. Among the first batch of Sandbox pilot projects, one project involves testing the sharing of data collected by unmanned aircraft. The operational model of the project will provide important insights for the establishment of a unified platform.

     Currently, a wide range of spatial data is available from the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI) (such as map, building and land use). The 3D Visualisation Map produced by the Lands Department has also been extended to cover the whole territory of Hong Kong since March this year, and is available on the CSDI. These high precision 3D spatial data can not only enhance flight route design, but can also be applied to simulation for flight training, take-off/landing facilities planning, as well as traffic management for real-life operation. In the future, they will be incorporated into the planning of a unified data-sharing platform.

     Meanwhile, various government departments are already using unmanned aircraft equipped with smart technology to enhance service efficiency. For example, in May this year, the Hong Kong Police Force has implemented the pilot scheme for "Drones Policing" in Border District and Kowloon West Region. Drones are used for patrolling and autonomous execution of missions, including the use of infrared detection system to inspect remote areas or difficult terrains, thereby enhancing patrol efficiency.

(3) The development of LAE requires talents in various fields, including those engaging in industries such as I&T. In respect of I&T talents, the Government has been adopting a multi-pronged approach in enlarging the local I&T talent pool. For example, the Government has launched the STEM Internship Scheme, which encourages university students to experience I&T-related work. The Government also launches different schemes to assist the youth in pursuing a career in I&T after graduation. For example, through the Research Talent Hub, the Government funds qualified institutions and enterprises to recruit university graduates of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to conduct R&D work. The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and the Cyberport also provide I&T talents with internship and start-up opportunities through various schemes. In order to facilitate talent admission to Hong Kong, the Technology Talent Admission Scheme handles applications that involve the admission of non-local talent to undertake R&D work in Hong Kong expeditiously, covering 14 technology areas. 

     To ensure aviation and public safety, remote pilots operating small unmanned aircraft (SUA) shall comply with all regulatory requirements and operating requirements under the Small Unmanned Aircraft Order (SUA Order) (Cap. 448G). Remote pilots conducting advanced operations shall hold an "Advanced Rating" and complete advanced training and assessment through a SUA training organisation approved by the Civil Aviation Department. As of May this year, there are eight approved SUA training organisations providing advanced training and assessment. Some of these organisations are also actively preparing training courses for the new Category C SUA (i.e. SUA weighing over 25 kg but not exceeding 150 kg), which will be introduced under the SUA Order. This will further support the development of LAE in Hong Kong.

     Thank you, President.

Ends/Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:10

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