Hong Kong and the mainland accelerate the promotion of cross-border low-altitude test flight projects, with the goal of conducting pilot tests starting in the first half of the year.

To explore the cross-border application field, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has actively connected with relevant mainland units and established a cooperation communication mechanism to discuss key issues such as cross-border low-altitude flight route planning, customs clearance mechanism, with the aim of launching cross-border low-altitude test flight projects as soon as possible. The Low Altitude Economy Working Group is currently reviewing the relevant applications in detail, with the goal of gradually launching pilot projects for testing in the first half of this year. The Hong Kong Low Altitude Economy Development Working Group will draft the "Low Altitude Economy Development Plan Action Plan" this year, drawing on the experience and data accumulated from the "Regulatory Sandbox" and "Regulatory Sandbox X" projects as well as relevant technical research, in order to develop suitable infrastructure, supporting facilities, standards, and regulations for the long-term development of low-altitude flight activities. It is reported that the industry has responded enthusiastically to the Hong Kong low-altitude economy "Regulatory Sandbox X," with multiple application scenarios receiving applications. In the Hong Kong Government's budget for the fiscal year 2026-2027, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po mentioned that the first batch of 32 projects in the "Regulatory Sandbox" have been tested on designated routes. Some unmanned aerial vehicle application scenarios, such as building management and inspection, have already been put into practical operation. Starting in the first half of the year, Hong Kong will gradually implement applications such as unmanned aerial traffic management systems, multi-user sharing platforms, cross-border routes, and manned aircraft, and is actively discussing with the mainland to carry out cross-border logistics test flight projects. He stated that the low-altitude economy is a new driving force for the intelligentization of cities and regional integration. The Hong Kong government has completed the first phase of amendments and will improve civil aviation regulations and regulatory frameworks to lay the foundation for the long-term standardized development of the low-altitude economy and build a competitive ecosystem. The Hong Kong Transport and Logistics Bureau stated that over the past year, Hong Kong has had 32 low-altitude economy "regulatory sandbox" projects tested on designated routes, with over 20 projects in mature, low-risk areas with low human and vehicle traffic, such as using drones to clean the exterior walls of buildings and inspect overhead cables and railway facilities, gradually achieving regular operations. The rapid development of the low-altitude economy in Hong Kong has significantly increased market participation. Ge Pei-fan, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council and the founding president of the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance, pointed out that when the alliance was established in September 2024, it was expected to have 30 members within a year. However, there are now over 60 members, far exceeding expectations. She pointed out that the use of the "regulatory sandbox" model, while ensuring flight safety, gradually enriching the application scenarios of low-altitude flights is an innovation in Hong Kong's regulatory system. The acceptance of the development of Hong Kong's low-altitude economy industry is increasing.