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."

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

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

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