According to a Linkedin article by Lee Gloria, Chief Executive Officer at Ascendo Group, the Hong Kong government has approved four projects within its Sandbox X strategy to advance the low level economy in the city:
- AECOM Asia – with partners Shanghai Auto Flight and Chun Wo
- China Travel Tours Transportation Services – Shanghai Auto Flight, China Mobile HK, GBA Low Altitude Economy Alliance and Esri China (HK)
- Geosys Hong Kong – FLYCAMHK and Development Bureau
- KC Smart Mobility – Cyberport and EHang
These initiatives will rigorously test smart mobility and cross-boundary tourism use cases within Hong Kong’s dense urban environment, with safety and progressive implementation as top priorities, said Lee Gloria.
According to a government press statement:
“The Project Facilitation Task Force (“TF”) under the WG will liaise with the applicants and coordinate among various technical departments for the implementation of Sandbox X projects. Based on the feasibility and readiness of the projects, implementation will take place in batches. With safety being the top priority, the TF will adopt a progressive approach to pilot projects, in terms of flight path, route planning, flight distance, etc., in order to ensure safety of low altitude flying activities.”
“At the same time, 15 UTM pilot projects have been greenlit, involving major telecom operators (China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, HKT, PCCW Global), leading universities (HKU, HKUST, PolyU), aviation research institutes, and global technology players such as Thales,” said Lee Gloria.
The Hong Kong Government has developed its Sandbox X programme “to allow the Government and relevant sectors to simulate diversified scenarios, multiple air routes and overarching low-altitude airspace management matters, while accumulating data and experience to guide the work on multiple fronts including regulations, infrastructure, and applications.”
For more information
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hong-kongs-low-altitude-economy-reaching-defining-moment-lee-gloria-uvyye/
https://www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/highlights/transport/List_of_Sandbox_X_UCA_Applications_EN_15.4.2026_rev2.pdf
https://www.cad.gov.hk/documents/AC-017.pdf
(Image: Hong Kong Government)
https://www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/highlights/transport/low-altitude.html