Food deliveries by drone to take flight in Hong Kong as early as April

Hong Kong residents may enjoy having their food delivered using drones as early as April, with one lawmaker expecting civil aviation regulations to be relaxed by October to allow wider usage of commercial unmanned aerial vehicles.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Thursday that businesses involved in pilot drone projects could start offering their services next month.

These services include CLP Power’s use of drones to monitor transmission towers, food delivery, and emergency transport of first aid resources during rescue operations, she said.

“We hope that as the routes and infrastructure develop, these sandbox projects will become commercially operational,” she said at a launch ceremony of the low-altitude economy regulatory sandbox project.

The sandbox project was launched last November to assist the government in testing airspace operations and infrastructure, while also developing policies and regulatory guidelines for the industry.

Among the proposed amendments to the existing Small Unmanned Aircraft Order are increasing the weight limit of drones from 25kg (55lbs) to 150kg and allowing flying beyond the pilot’s sight.