The Chamber organised a delegation focusing on the low-altitude economy (LAE) on 25 March. Led by Felix Lee, China Committee Chairman, and Dewan Saiful Alam, Asia, Africa and Middle East Committee Chairman, the 43-member delegation visited Longgang, Shenzhen, to explore the latest developments in the local LAE, aiming to foster exchange and collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in this sector.
“Longgang’s strategic plan and innovation in the LAE are truly remarkable. From policy support to corporate practice, the district demonstrates strong momentum of growth,” said Lee. “This mission allowed us to witness firsthand the practical application of drone technology and the testing base, providing a valuable reference for Hong Kong as we explore viable models for our own LAE ecosystem. Through this visit, we hope to drive further alignment between the two cities in technology, standards, and industrial supply chains.”
Alam noted: “The low-altitude economy is a key pillar of smart cities in the future. As an international I&T hub, Hong Kong is well-positioned to work closely with Longgang in expanding application scenarios, coordinating cross-border data, and aligning regulatory frameworks to jointly capture opportunities in this emerging industry.”
The intensive and action-packed itinerary featured government dialogues, corporate visits, and hands-on experiences, allowing delegates to fully grasp the complete ecosystem of Longgang’s low-altitude economy, from policy design to practical implementation. The delegation first met with the Longgang District Government. Liu Gaobao, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC, Longgang District, Shenzhen and Longgang LAE Special Committee Co-Leader, also attended the meeting. Attaching great importance to this emerging sector, Longgang established the LAE Industry Leadership Committee three years ago, spearheaded by the district government, to drive industrial development through a top-down planning approach. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on development blueprints, industrial policies, and potential collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in the LAE.
The delegation then visited the “Amap” Low-Altitude Economy Intelligent Operation Exhibition Hall to learn how its digital infrastructure, built on high-precision spatial-temporal information technology, empowers low-altitude flight management and urban governance. Members also visited High Great Technology Co., Ltd, a company that has repeatedly broken Guinness World Records for drone swarm flights. The delegates watched a live drone swarm performance and tried drone laser shooting demo, gaining intuitive insights into the innovative applications of drone technology in sectors such as entertainment and security.
As the final stop of the tour, the delegation visited the Longgang Low-Altitude Intelligent Integration Testing Base to understand the construction of supporting infrastructure, including the testing grounds, airspace management systems, and flight service safeguards. To date, Longgang has developed seven specialised low-altitude parks, 182 take-off platforms, and 217 flight routes, gathering over 200 core enterprises in the field and forming an increasingly mature industrial ecosystem.
The fruitful mission not only deepened members’ understanding of every link in the LAE’s supply chain but also built a bridge for communication between Hong Kong and Shenzhen regarding policy synergy and business model innovation. Moving forward, the two cities can further explore collaboration in joint testing, talent development, and mutual recognition of standards, helping Hong Kong seize new opportunities in the burgeoning low-altitude economy.