Hong Kong Launches Low Altitude Economy Forum to Explore Innovation and Collaboration Opportunities

2025-06-27 14:20 Last Updated At：16:48

InvestHK hosts inaugural Low Altitude Economy Forum - government, industry, academia and research join forces to drive development of Hong Kong's low-altitude innovation ecosystem

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (June 27) hosted the inaugural Hong Kong Low Altitude Economy Forum themed "Dream to the Sky". The forum brought together leaders from government, industry, academia and research sectors to explore policy direction, technological development and application prospects of the low-altitude economy (LAE). Topics discussed included regulatory frameworks, cross-boundary collaboration and infrastructure support, showcasing Hong Kong's progress in innovation and new industrial development. The forum attracted over 250 local and international stakeholders.

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InvestHK hosts inaugural Low Altitude Economy Forum - government, industry, academia and research join forces to drive development of Hong Kong's low-altitude innovation ecosystem Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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InvestHK hosts inaugural Low Altitude Economy Forum - government, industry, academia and research join forces to drive development of Hong Kong's low-altitude innovation ecosystem Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The LAE is one of the key policy initiatives announced in the "The Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address". The Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy was established under the leadership of the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, to promote institutional innovation, technology implementation, and industry ecosystem building.

Speaking at the forum, Mr Wong said that developing a low-altitude economy has to be a joint effort. The Government will act as a facilitator and enabler, and will continue to move at a fast pace. He noted that the low-altitude economy has strong synergy with other sectors of the economy, stimulating growth and driving positive changes. The total impact and benefits to society, he said, will be greater than the sum of its parts.

The forum featured updates on multiple policy initiatives, including the launch of the first batch of Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects, and the direction of upcoming legislative amendments to civil aviation regulations covering higher-payload and passenger-carrying unmanned aerial systems, to fuel the future development of Advanced Air Mobility.

The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan said, "Our LAE Regulatory Sandbox, covering a wide range of fields, including emergency rescue, logistics, infrastructure inspection and surveillance, is more than just a testing ground. It is a launch pad for transformative technologies that will shape the future of urban mobility, logistics, and public services. These diverse applications demonstrate the remarkable versatility of low-altitude technologies and showcase how unmanned systems can solve unique urban challenges while creating new economic opportunities. Hong Kong's unique strengths, such as our professional services in airspace management, technology integration and specialised insurance, make it an ideal hub for the development of LAE. Looking forward, we will continue to leverage these advantages to create a regional ecosystem where businesses and researchers in the LAE field can thrive."

The forum also highlighted the immense growth potential of the low-altitude industry value chain and the critical role of government-industry-academia-research collaboration in driving innovation. Three thematic panel discussions explored topics such as low-altitude technology and innovation, infrastructure development and safety management, as well as diverse application scenarios including logistics, emergency response and urban planning, fostering cross-sector knowledge exchanges and partnerships.

The Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, said, "The LAE represents not only a strategic emerging industry; it showcases the harnessing of new quality productive forces. It will be a new growth engine for Hong Kong, and we have taken bold steps to realise this vision. Through this forum, we will illustrate how low-altitude solutions are reshaping industry paradigms, from smart logistics to urban air mobility. InvestHK will continue to attract and support overseas and Mainland companies, leveraging Hong Kong's role as a 'super connector' and 'super value-adder' to jointly build a forward-looking and competitive low-altitude economy ecosystem."

Speakers at the forum included representatives from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Cyberport, and CLP Power Hong Kong. Participants shared insights on cutting-edge research and real-world applications. Many noted that Hong Kong’s strong research foundation, sound institutional support, and mature cross-sector collaboration provide a solid base for advancing industrial applications and regional integration in the low altitude sector, further positioning the city as a driving force for low altitude innovation across Asia.

Deputy Dean, Lower Air Space Economy Research Institute, International Digital Economy Academy, Mr Victor Chen remarked, "The low-altitude economy offers vast potential in transportation, emergency services, and logistics etc. We prioritise synchronised research and development alongside policy innovation, particularly in cross-border collaboration and regulatory standards, where Hong Kong's position as an international hub makes it a pivotal catalyst for industry growth."

Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering Division of Integrative Systems and Design and Director of the Low Altitude Economy Research Center, HKUST, Professor Mo Li, stated, "The advancement of the low-altitude economy is heavily dependent on sophisticated artificial intelligence and automation systems. At HKUST, we are actively researching drone navigation, airspace management, and cross-platform collaboration technologies. Through close partnerships between academia and industry, we aim to drive the practical application of low-altitude technologies, injecting fresh impetus into the development of smart cities."

The Managing Director of GODO Innovation Technology HK Limited, Ms Joanne Wu, commented, "Hong Kong's strengths in regulatory support, testing environments, and market connectivity, particularly through the regulatory sandbox, enable swift implementation and validation of innovative solutions, providing opportunities for product optimisation and commercial expansion. We look forward to collaborating with government and research institutions to build a world-class low-altitude innovation ecosystem."

Hong Kong Prepares for Surge in Mainland Tourists During Labour Day Golden Week

Commissioner for Tourism visits tourist attractions during Labour Day Golden Week of Mainland

The five-day 2026 Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland began yesterday (May 1). The Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs Angelina Cheung, visited several major tourist attractions, includingthe Peak Tram and the Old Town Central today (May 2) to monitor crowd control management and visitor activities. She also visited the Water Taxi, sightseeing bus stops, the Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Kowloon Visitor Centre, to review the operation and visitor services facilities.

She also observed the Travel Industry Authority's (TIA) work in assisting with the staggering of Mainland tour groups at various tourist attractions, so as to maintain good order and avoid overcrowding. TIA staff also distributed leaflets to residents and visitors, urging them not to patronise unlicensed services.

The Government estimated that during the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland, around 980 000 Mainland visitors will visit Hong Kong, including over 800 Mainland inbound tour groups.

Currently, the operation of various tourist attractions and ancillary services for receiving tourists was generally smooth. During peak hours of crowd flow, manpower and resources have been suitably deployed by various tourist attractions to strengthen services and facilitate crowd management. To assist residents and visitors in planning their itineraries, the HKTB has launched a dedicated webpage (www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/travel-guide/may-goldenweek-special-info.html) which consolidates useful information, and provides real-time update on the waiting time at major attractions (including the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, the Ocean Park Hong Kong, the Peak Tram, Ngong Ping 360, the Hong Kong Observation Wheel and the Star Ferry).

During the Golden Week, the TIA will continue to step up inspections and conduct joint operations with enforcement departments including the Immigration Department in tourist attractions such as the West Kowloon Cultural District, the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower, the Avenue of Stars and Wong Tai Sin to combat illegal tourist guide and tour escort. Besides, the Government adopts a zero-tolerance stance towards coerced shopping and will take stringent action against any violations. Travel agents and tourist guides are obliged to ensure the safety and interests of visitors joining inbound tour groups, including protecting them from malpractices such as coerced shopping. The Government urges visitors to call the TIA's hotline (3698 5900) to report incidents or contact the Police for assistance if they encounter improper treatment.

For the remaining days of the Golden Week holiday, different units will continue to closely communicate and co-ordinate to offer visitors a high-quality experience.

Hong Kong Launches Low Altitude Economy Forum to Explore Innovation and Collaboration Opportunities

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