On 2 July 2025, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) brought together industry leaders, researchers and policymakers in Hong Kong for an LAE Sandbox Workshop and Public Seminar. The event spotlighted Hong Kong’s ambition to become a hub for drone technology and the development of the low-altitude economy (LAE).
Participants of the LAE Sandbox Workshop and Public Seminar.
Sandbox progress and challenges
- Progress: 38 projects are currently under Hong Kong’s LAE Sandbox Regulation, though only several flight performances have been fully implemented.
- Regulatory hurdles: Delays in AOP (Advance Operation Permit) approvals and cross-border policy misalignment (e.g. differing drone definitions and customs rules) were highlighted as critical barriers.
- Collaborative solutions: Proposals included redefining logistics drones as “flying trucks” for smoother customs clearance (inspired by DJI) and prioritising “from suburbs to cities, goods to people” for phased regulation.
Sandbox project presentations at the workshop.
Industry innovations
- SF Express (丰翼): Revealed plans for heavy-duty drone (25kg+) trials by mid-July, building on existing success in blood sample deliveries (7,000+ flights in Shenzhen).
- Cross-border logistics: A PolyU-backed project with the Shenzhen Urban Transport Planning Center (SUTPC) aims to cut delivery times between Hong Kong and Shenzhen by 80–90%.
- eVTOL advancements: Companies such as Aerofugia and Zero Gravity showcased electric vertical take-off aircraft, targeting 2026 for passenger trials.
Workshop participants sharing practices and insights on the future of the LAE (upper left: AEROFUGIA; upper middle: Beijing Racobit Electronic Information Technology Co.; upper right: Zero Gravity Aircraft; bottom left: Phoenix Wings; bottom middle: Gaode Map; bottom right: ASTRI).
Public seminar highlights
- Safety and infrastructure: Experts stressed the need for vertiports (22.5–30m in diameter) and anti-drone systems (e.g. radar-based “black drone” detection by Beijing Racobit).
- Digital integration: ASTRI and Gaode Map proposed unified low-altitude traffic management platforms, piloted in Shenzhen’s Longgang District.
Quotable insights
- Kenny Lau (CTO, SF Express): “Hong Kong is in the 0-to-1 phase. Scalability hinges on cross-border networks—flying from Tsing Yi to Shenzhen, not just islands.”
- Cheng Xue (LAE Solution Manager, SUTPC Representative): “Commercial viability must drive sandbox projects. Round 1 lacked market focus; Round 2 needs tighter industry-government synergy.”
Path forward
- Standardised regulations and faster AOP processing.
- Public-private pilots, e.g. medical deliveries to outlying islands (Digital Port to Lamma/Cheung Chau).
Lab visits to PolyU’s FJ005 facility also showcased prototypes such as handheld mapping devices and “all-in-one” navigation systems.