Hong Kong’s drone laws limit opportunities for wider commercial use of drones, industry leaders say, at a time when lawmakers are calling for a bigger drone market to boost tourism and the economy.
Andy Yeung Kin-sheng, chairman of the DNT FPV Drone Association of China Hong Kong, outlined the regulations on Friday after lawmakers called for Hong Kong to take a leaf out of mainland China’s book on using unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver goods and transport passengers.
Yen agreed that such drone services have great potential, but the city’s relevant laws are “very restrictive.”
He emphasized the prohibition on operating drones outside the pilot’s line of sight, and said relaxing those rules is crucial if the city wants to operate autonomous drones, the types already in use on the mainland.
“If everything has to be controlled manually and monitored by humans, it’s not cost-effective,” Ien said on the radio show.
“If city law doesn’t allow it, [full autonomous use, then] “When using drones for logistics purposes, it’s not possible for humans to constantly monitor the drones and have visual observers to monitor them continuously,” he said.
Yen added that unless the government changes the law, it will be difficult to expand the current use of drones in the city.
He noted that the city’s use of drones has developed much slower than other jurisdictions, making it difficult to find locations to test and pilot new technology.
Drone shows have become increasingly popular in recent months as the city tries to bring back vitality to both tourists and residents amid an economic downturn.
The new show, which will be held on Victoria Harbour on June 10, will add colour to Dragon Boat Festival celebrations as part of a mega event expected to attract 130,000 locals and tourists.
Tens of thousands of people gathered on the harbor waterfront on May 11 to watch the first-ever drone show themed around the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, a celebration of Buddha’s birthday just days away. The show featured 1,000 drones projecting familiar images of Hong Kong culture, including bun towers, dancing lions and floral boards flying flags.
Last week, a further 1,000 flying devices took to the skies at the world’s first Doraemon Drone Show.
Hong Kong hosted the world’s first Doraemon drone show earlier this month. Photo: Jess Ma
On the same radio program, Elizabeth Kuat, a lawmaker from Hong Kong’s Democratic Progressive League, called on the government to promote the development of so-called low-altitude economies.
Mr Kuat said authorities may consider using drones to further boost tourism, such as ferrying people to Hong Kong Geopark and other outlying islands in Hong Kong’s remote east.
He said commercial passenger drone services are expected to begin in mainland China as early as late June, with the 10-minute trip costing around 200-300 yuan (US$28-41).
Drones are also being used to deliver medical supplies and takeaway food across borders, and Quat said Hong Kong could follow suit.
“Apart from the capabilities of the drones, Hong Kong is quite behind in terms of commercial applications,” she said.
