The Government today announced that amendments to the Small Unmanned Aircraft Order and the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 will be published in the Government Gazette on Friday, with an aim to facilitate the development of the low-altitude economy.

The Small Unmanned Aircraft (Amendment) Order 2025 serves to extend the existing regulatory regime with a proposal to add a new category C, covering aircraft that weigh over 25kg but not more than 150kg.

Anyone operating category C aircraft will have to obtain prior permission from the Civil Aviation Department. Insurance requirements are also proposed. In addition, there is a proposal to permit a statutory fee to be charged on a full cost-recovery basis.

Anyone conducting cross-boundary small unmanned aircraft (SUA) operations, regardless of the weight of the SUA deployed, will have to obtain prior permission from the department.

Another proposal is that information about any SUA operated under the department’s prior permission should be kept for six months and be accessible within Hong Kong.

As regards air navigation, the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (Amendment) Order 2025 serves to facilitate trials of various unconventional aircraft in Hong Kong. New articles are proposed to empower the Chief Executive to permit such trials under specified conditions.

The Transport & Logistics Bureau said the Government is proactively taking forward initiatives to promote the low-altitude economy in Hong Kong, adding that it is imperative to establish a robust legal and regulatory framework for the relevant emerging technologies.

The proposed legislative amendments can tap into the potential of heavier SUA units and facilitate trial flights for unconventional aircraft, thereby expanding and enriching application scenarios for different low-altitude flying activities, the bureau added.

Meanwhile, the Government is studying the scope for a new, customised piece of legislation that would regulate different types of unconventional aircraft.

The amendment orders will be tabled at the Legislative Council on May 28, with a targeted commencement date of July 18.