Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox X (“Sandbox X”)

The Sandbox aims to enable industry stakeholders to test and conduct trials on some project concepts within pre-defined air routes and in a controlled and safe manner. The objectives are to -

a.	support the Government in developing policies and regulatory guidelines that better embrace the latest technologies as well as the needs of the industry while ensuring public and aviation safety;
b.	test and conduct trials relevant to airspace management, flight operations, infrastructure/facilities (including storage/carriage and ground supporting facilities), and emergency response required to support the safe and efficient operations of unmanned aircraft;
c.	adopt a risk-based approach to conduct tests and trials at various locations to collect data against various parameters such that safe and reliable flights can be ensured within the parameters, including: environmental factors (such as temperature, visibility, rain/humidity, wind speed, etc.); date of the week/time of the day; unmanned aircraft’s weight and payload; flying altitude and speed; strength and stability of the signals for Global Navigation Satellite System with consideration on ionospheric disturbance, and communication/surveillance network in the unique environment of Hong Kong with surrounding terrain and high-rise buildings, including remote, sparsely populated, over-water and cross-boundary areas, etc.; response to various emergency situations with multiple layers of risk mitigating measures; and simultaneous operations of multiple unmanned aircraft with the support of an advanced SUA controlling and surveillance system with proven safety records;
d.	enable the Government to collect data to validate that the applications are viable and can meet the relevant safety, stability, reliability and resilience requirements;
e.	demonstrate safe segregation from aircraft, helicopters, other airspace users, people, vehicles, vessels and building structures;
f.	showcase applications of technologies relevant to low-altitude economy (“LAE”);
g.	for cross-boundary applications, validate procedures and liaison between relevant authorities in the Mainland and Hong Kong (including but not limited to Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (“CIQ”)) arrangements and other relevant requirements; and
h.	enable participants to gather, under a controlled environment, data and user feedback so that they can make refinements to their LAE initiatives, thereby validating the proposed applications are technically and commercially viable, expediting the launch of new LAE products or services, and reducing the development and pre-launch costs.

In the first batch of Sandbox, 38 pilot projects were selected, covering a wide range of fields and application scenarios, including emergency and rescue, logistics and distribution, inspections and safety maintenance, surveillance, and low-altitude infrastructure.

Sandbox X, as its name stands, is expected to bring about the new elements of “extra”, “extended” and “collaboration”, and raise the work on developing LAE to the next level.

While application scenarios tested in the first batch of Sandbox will not be repeated in general, the Sandbox X will focus on the following modules:

(i)	Unmanned aircraft system traffic management (“UTM”) system demonstrations;
(ii)	Unconventional aircraft, such as unmanned aircraft weighing more than 150 kg, eVTOLs and unconventional aircraft designed for passenger-carrying;
(iii)	Cross-boundary applications (involving small unmanned aircraft or unconventional aircraft);
(iv)	Multiple applications / users shared-platform (for small unmanned aircraft only); and
(v)	Other applications as approved by the Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy (“WG”) (for small unmanned aircraft only)

The Sandbox X will be open for applications from eligible parties by modules according to the following schedule:

Eligible applicants shall complete the application form and return it to the Secretariat of WG on or before the relevant deadline of each module. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Applications for unconventional aircraft received during the previous stage of Sandbox will be carried forward to Sandbox X and need not be resubmitted again.

The WG expects to announce the result for each module in batch starting Q1/ 2026. Successful applications will commence their trial subsequently.

While applying for the Sandbox X, applicants shall be reminded that –

a.	under the Sandbox X, the Government will review the applications with more flexibility, and participants of the Sandbox X can also receive one-stop assistance from the Government. That said, the Sandbox X shall not be used as a means to bypass applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Sandbox X shall not, in any way, predispose regulatory decision-making;
b.	the Sandbox X encourages different applications to ensure the capturing of a wide range of data and experience;
c.	applications which do not comply with applicable Government’s requirements and/or those imposed by the WG and/or the Project Facilitation Task Force (“TF”) will not be considered;
d.	any costs in preparing the applications and conducting the trials will be borne by the Sandbox X pilot projects applicants through their self-arranged financial and / or other funding ources;
e.	air routes adopted in Sandbox X do not necessarily form part of future LAE air route network; and
f.	the Sandbox X does not give favoritism to any applicants in the future potential commercialization of their applications.

In reviewing each pilot project, the Government will consider a range of factors and reserve the right to propose variations to the applications. Before commencement of the pilot projects, successful applicants are required to confirm acceptance of all the conditions and requirements imposed by the WG and/or the TF (including but not limited to the applicable requirements, Advisory Circulars and Aeronautical Information Circulars issued by the CAD, as well as the applicable procedures and regulatory requirements from other authorities.)

• Civil Aviation Department - Electronic Portal for Small Unmanned Aircraft (“eSUA”)
• Civil Aviation Department – Permission to Conduct Trial Operations of Unconventional Aircraft in Hong Kong
• Office of the Communication Authority – Information on Radio Applications – Unmanned Aircraft Systems / Drones (Mar 2017)
• Office of the Communication Authority – Supporting Low-altitude Economy Activities from Telecommunications Perspectives
• Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data – Guidance on CCTV Surveillance and Use of Drones
• Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data – Guidance on the Use of Video Cameras on Drones and Vehicles (Oct 2025)
• Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data – Responsible Use of Drones and In-Vehicle Cameras (Oct 2025)
• Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data – Updated Guidance on the Use of CCTV Surveillance (Oct 2025)
• Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data – Tips on the Use of CCTV Surveillance (Oct 2025)
• Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data – Guidance on Cross-boundary Data Transfer: Standard Contract for Cross-boundary Flow of Personal Information Within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Mainland, Hong Kong)(Dec 2023)
• Leisure and Cultural Services Department - Pilot scheme for booking of recreation venues by organisations to conduct Small Unmanned Aircraft (“SUA”) activities
• Electrical & Mechanical Services Department InnoPortal - Drones and Robotics

Email: LAE.enquiry@tlb.gov.hk

By email: LAE.sandbox@tlb.gov.hk

• Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy holds first meeting (November 12, 2024)
• Regulatory sandbox pilot projects officially launched to foster low-altitude economy and innovative industry development (March 20, 2025)

Q.1 Can the same applicant/organisation submit more than one application? Or can the same applicant/organisation submit more than one application in collaboration with different organisations?
A.1 Yes. The same applicant/organisation may apply for multiple trials/ routes, including collaboration with different organisations, to explore various project concepts and innovative ideas.

Q.2 The venue partners of the Sandbox are (1) the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited; (2) Hong Kong Polytechnic University; (3) the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Cooperation; (4) Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and(5) The University of Hong Kong. Does it mean that the pilot projects can only be conducted in the above five places? Can we apply for implementing the pilot projects in other locations?
A.2 The Government has appointed the five above-mentioned institutes as venue partners, with the objective of streamlining the applicants' efforts in venue arrangements. That said, applicants may also propose to conduct trials at other locations. When evaluating the application, the Working Group will consider the feasibility and readiness of the proposed site. Please refer to Part 5 of AC-013 regarding the factors for consideration in respect of operating area and/or flight path for small unmanned aircraft and the practical guidance document “Permission to Conduct Trial Operations of Unconventional Aircraft in Hong Kong” (“Practical Guidance”) for those factors in respect of take-off/landing sites for unconventional aircraft.
AC-013 can be downloaded from https://www.cad.gov.hk/documents/AC-013_E.pdf.
Practical Guidance can be downloaded from https://www.cad.gov.hk/english/uca_trials.html.

Q.3 Is it mandatory to have the UTM demo system installed at specified locations (Civil Aviation Department Headquarters)?
A.3 Yes, to ensure data protection and facilitate on-site system evaluation, the UTM demo system has to be installed at specified locations during the specific period of time as indicated or coordinated between the Sandbox Applicant and the Civil Aviation Department.

Q.4 What application scenarios does the module of “Others” cover?
A.4 As a general principle, application scenarios tested in the first batch of Sandbox will not be repeated. For the list of the first batch of Sandbox, please refer to the attached document . The module of “Others” is intended to enable project proponents to submit applications which bring significant value to the development of LAE in Hong Kong, Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Working Group.

Q.5 What factors will the Working Group take into consideration when evaluating applications for various pilot projects? Is there any marking mechanism?
A5. When evaluating each eligible application, the Working Group will take into account a basket of factors including, but not limited to, the scope of application, whether it is innovative and make use of local research and development (R&D) technologies, whether it can help enhance local experience in different areas for the development of the low-altitude economy (e.g. air route network design, infrastructure requirements, emergency response, regulatory regime, etc.), as well as the applicant's skills and experience, etc.

Q.6 Will the Government provide financial assistance to the selected Sandbox pilot projects?
A6. The Government has been supporting research and development (R&D) in various technology areas through the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF), including the funding schemes under the ITF to support local universities, R&D centres and enterprises to conduct R&D in areas including electronics, data transfer and processing related to LAE.
The General Conditions of the Sandbox states that any costs in preparing the applications and conducting the trials will be borne by the Sandbox pilot projects applicants through their self-arranged financial and / or other funding sources.

The government received a total of 72 applications for the "Regulatory Sandbox" pilot projects submitted by applicants. After evaluation by the Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy, 38 projects will be implemented. The applying institutions include commercial enterprises, universities/research institutions, public utility organizations, and government departments. The project contents cover various fields and application scenarios such as emergency and rescue, drone delivery, inspection and maintenance, surveillance and low-altitude infrastructure. Please visit the following page for the relevant list.

As of 31 October 2025, twenty eight Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects have been implemented. For the project details, please refer to the attached list.

Implement Low-Altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox to explore innovative applications