Drone regulations in Hong Kong

Drone rules in Hong Kong

In this article, we explain to you the regulations for drone pilots in the cosmopolitan city of Hong Kong.

The rules for private copter pilots are quite straightforward. However, drones with a weight of 7 kilograms or more (without fuel) require permission from the Civil Aviation Department (CAD). If you want to fly in this metropolis on the south coast of China, you should observe the following regulations.

Overview: Drone rules in H

Recreational use of drones allowed? Yes, without further requirements
Commercial use of drones permitted? Yes, after registration or approval
Maximum Altitude:300 in uncontrolled airspace.
Is drone insurance mandatory? Yes, for commercial drone flights. Learn more about drone insurance here.
Does the drone need a badge?Unknown.
Drone labels can be ordered here
Is a registration necessary? Yes.
Keep distance to airports
Respect the privacy of other people

Further regulations for drone pilots in Hong Kong

Drone flights in Hong Kong must always be within visual line of sight. Relying on a second person (observer) for FPV flights is not allowed to my knowledge.

Drone insurance is only mandatory for commercial users. However, we recommend that private users also have appropriate insurance.

The use of copters in Hong Kong is only permitted during daylight hours.

In addition, drone flights may only be conducted in good weather conditions. This means in concrete terms that…

  • Visibility must be at least 5 kilometers.
  • The cloud cover is not lower than the permitted flight altitude.
  • The wind speed must not be higher than 20 knots (37 km/h).
  • You are not allowed to fly if rain showers, a tropical cyclone or a strong monsoon is expected.

Distances and flight bans

Flights near airports are not permitted. A minimum distance of 5 kilometers should be kept to aerodromes. Copter flights in the following regions are not allowed:

  • Hong Kong International Airport;
  • North Lantau coastal area;
  • Coastal areas from Tai Lam Chung to Tsuen Wan and Tsing Yi Island;
  • Victoria Harbour and its coastal areas;
  • Shek Kong area

In general, a sufficient distance of at least 50 meters between the copter and persons and foreign property (vehicles, ships, buildings, etc.) must be maintained to avoid collisions.

Flights over crowds of people are not allowed.

Regulations for commercial pilots

Regardless of the weight of the copters used, commercial pilots must report to CAD with details of planned maneuvers. When reporting, you must provide proof of your pilot skills. In addition, an operations manual must be submitted, which includes emergency procedures. You will find a guideline for filling out the form under the helpful links above.

Documentation must be prepared for all flights. You should use a flight log for this purpose.

We have researched the listed drone regulations for Hong Kong to the best of our knowledge. We can not guarantee the correctness of the information. If you want to be on the safe side, please contact the competent aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also ask the embassy in your country for further information about the regulations. Please leave us a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your copter in Hong Kong!

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About the author

Since January 2015, we travel around the world. In our backpack we carry a camera drone which we use to capture the best places from a bird’s perspective. First we travelled with a DJI Phantom 2. But now we use several drones like the DJI Phantom 4 Pro+ or the DJI Mini 3 Pro. On our blog we share the best tips for you about travelling with a drone. If you have questions about this article or new information, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment!

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