Go to main content
 
International Low-Altitude Economy Summit convenes global experts to explore new opportunities in low-altitude economy (with photos)
******************************************************************************************
     The International Low-Altitude Economy Summit, organised by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and co-organised by the Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance, was held today (October 9). The Summit brought together over 1 000 government representatives, industry leaders, academic experts and members of international organisations from places including Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Europe and Singapore to explore the development prospects, policy frameworks and technological innovations of the low-altitude economy (LAE), fostering regional and international collaboration. A number of staff and students from PolyU also joined the Summit.

     The Summit featured a kick-off ceremony, keynote speeches, fireside chats, an innovation showcase and multiple parallel sessions, with an aim to establish a cross-disciplinary and cross-regional exchange platform to promote collaboration among government, industry, academia and research sectors, injecting new impetus into the LAE development in Hong Kong, the region and the world.

     Officiating at the kick-off ceremony, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, said that the Government is rapidly advancing the development of the LAE. Of the first batch of 38 Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects, 17 have already commenced and another 11 are expected to be launched by the end of this month. On the legislative front, the first phase of amendments has been completed, covering drones weighing 25 to 150 kilograms and allowing unconventional aircraft to conduct trials under specific conditions. Mr Wong mentioned that the Government will soon roll out advanced "Regulatory Sandbox X" pilot projects, which will encompass more complex application scenarios such as cross-boundary routes and passenger-carrying low-altitude aircraft. He expressed his sincere gratitude to PolyU for hosting the Summit, establishing the Research Centre for the LAE and launching a related master degree programme to nurture talent.

     Subsequently, the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Kevin Choi, moderated a fireside chat on Policy Dialogue on the LAE. He engaged in in-depth discussions from an international perspective with top experts from the Guangzhou Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the Thales Group, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore on four key areas, namely top-level planning, technological empowerment, regulatory safeguards and regional co-ordination. Mr Choi shared his experiences from years ago in promoting the new Air Traffic Management System and planning the operation of the Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport in an orderly manner. He led the experts to focus on discussing how Hong Kong can currently, and in the future, participate in and advance the national LAE development blueprint, transforming enormous LAE potential into tangible economic value, advancing global standard harmonisation and strengthening regional and international co-operation, with an aim to providing a stable and forward-looking policy environment for industry growth.

     In the afternoon, Co-Head of the Project Facilitation Task Force under the Working Group and Deputy Director of Civil Aviation Mr Dominic Chow hosted a roundtable discussion at a parallel session on Policy and Regulation. He discussed the collaboration and standard-setting for the LAE in the Greater Bay Area with political and business leaders from Zhuhai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou Nansha and Hong Kong. The discussion also explored Hong Kong's connectivity to promote the prospects for Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises to expand into the Asia-Pacific region and international markets.

     The Summit was held in support of the directives on promoting the LAE outlined in "The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address", fostering research and development and its applications, as well as reviewing talent development strategies. The Government will continue to support the industry and universities in organising more training and flagship events to showcase business opportunities and innovation achievements of the LAE, and jointly building an innovative, efficient and safe LAE ecosystem, propelling Hong Kong as an Asia-Pacific hub for innovative low-altitude applications.
 
Ends/Thursday, October 9, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:45
NNNN
Archives   Yesterday's Press Releases  
Back to Index Page
Back to top
Today's Press Releases  

Photo

The International Low-Altitude Economy Summit was held today (October 9). Photo shows the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, speaking at the kick-off ceremony.
The International Low-Altitude Economy Summit was held today (October 9). Photo shows the Council Chairman of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Dr Lam Tai-fai (centre); the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Kevin Choi (sixth right); the Party Secretary and Director-General of the Development and Reform Commission, Guangzhou Municipal Government, Mr Wu Sa (third left); the Founding President of the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance, Dr Elizabeth Quat (fourth right), and other guests officiating at the kick-off ceremony.
The International Low-Altitude Economy Summit was held today (October 9). Photo shows the Council Chairman of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Dr Lam Tai-fai (front row, centre); the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Kevin Choi (front row, seventh right); the Party Secretary and Director-General of the Development and Reform Commission, Guangzhou Municipal Government, Mr Wu Sa (front row, fourth left); the Founding President of the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance, Dr Elizabeth Quat (front row, fifth right), and other guests at the kick-off ceremony.
The International Low-Altitude Economy Summit was held today (October 9). Photo shows the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Kevin Choi (centre), moderating a fireside chat on Policy Dialogue on the low-altitude economy. Mr Choi exchanged views with the Party Secretary and Director-General of the Development and Reform Commission, Guangzhou Municipal Government, Mr Wu Sa (second left); the Director of Global Market Development, Digital & UTM, Airspace Mobility Solutions of the Thales Group, Mr Frank Erb (first left); the North Asia Representative of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Ms Ingrid Lagarrigue (second right); and the Director (Unmanned Systems Technology, Engineering and Planning) of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Mr Tan Chun-wei (first right).
The International Low-Altitude Economy Summit was held today (October 9). Photo shows the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Kevin Choi (centre), and panel speakers of the fireside chat on Policy Dialogue on the low-altitude economy. The panel speakers are the Party Secretary and Director-General of the Development and Reform Commission, Guangzhou Municipal Government, Mr Wu Sa (second left); the Director of Global Market Development, Digital & UTM, Airspace Mobility Solutions of the Thales Group, Mr Frank Erb (first left); the North Asia Representative of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Ms Ingrid Lagarrigue (second right); and the Director (Unmanned Systems Technology, Engineering and Planning) of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Mr Tan Chun-wei (first right).
The International Low-Altitude Economy Summit was held today (October 9). Photo shows the Co-Head of the Project Facilitation Task Force under the Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy and Deputy Director of Civil Aviation Mr Dominic Chow (centre), hosting the roundtable discussion at a parallel session on Policy and Regulation. Attending the discussion are the full-time Deputy Director, Zhuhai Municipal Office for Advancing the Development of the Guangdong-HongKong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Mr Su Yabing (second right); the Chairman of Hangzhou Low-Altitude Industry Development Co., Ltd, Mr Liu Chen (second left); the Executive Director of International Advanced Technology Application and Promotion Center (GBA), GBA Application Scenarios Innovation Center, Ms Zhao Hui (first left), and the Chairman of the Low Altitude Economy Association of Hong Kong, China, Mr Cheung Ting-pong (first right).
The International Low-Altitude Economy Summit was held today (October 9). Photo shows the roundtable discussion at a parallel session on Policy and Regulation.