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Oscar Liu

Drone shows are all the rage for celebrations in Hong Kong but industry leaders have urged organisers to be creative with content and for the government to ease restrictions to cater to locals and tourists.
From Tai Po and Wong Tai Sin to the waterfront in Wan Chai and Chai Wan, a series of aerial performances involving hundreds of drones had been lined up ahead of National Day although some were cancelled amid rainy weather.
For the first time, the National Day celebration on October 1 will feature a combination of a drone show and a 23-minute, HK$18 million fireworks display over Victoria Harbour.
“It is going to be a trend simply because they look good,” said Lam Shu-kam, founder of design studio AllRightsReserved, who organised two rounds of drone shows on Japanese robot cat Doraemon which drew tens of thousands to the harbour in summer.
Drone shows have gained in popularity since proliferating across the border in recent years. Official data from mainland China shows the drone show market rapidly expanding, with 7,228 domestic formations in 2021.
Samuel Lam Hon-yuen, CEO of drone show operator X Social Group, estimated more than 9,000 performances were held on the mainland last year, with 60 per cent of them taking place in tourist destinations. The group’s mainland partner is responsible for operating the National Day drone show.
“We organised a New Year’s Eve countdown drone show above Tian Tan Buddha. People were able to not just enjoy the drones dazzling in the dark, but also the Buddha as a stunning backdrop,” he said. “The picturesque Victoria Harbour is equally unique.”
An aerial show typically required a minimum number of drones, he said. The cost for one drone was about HK$1,000 including a three-dimensional design, insurance coverage, venue rental and technical support.
A typical show at Victoria Harbour uses at least 1,000 drones.
According to the Tourism Board, drone shows in May and June linked to the Cheung Chau Bun Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival received high visitor satisfaction ratings, with more than 90 per cent agreeing the displays enhanced their Hong Kong experience.
“Drone shows are just like singing and dancing performances. I don’t think they’re too frequent as the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day coincide within two weeks, you will probably see another show during the Christmas period,” legislator Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong said on Monday.

Hong Kong authorities expect drone performances to be a highlight for tourists.
The Travel Industry Council earlier estimated the city would welcome 1.15 million to 1.2 million mainland visitors during the National Day “golden week” holiday between October 1 and 7, anticipating an influx of tourists from the Greater Bay Area with festival discounts and drone shows.
Tourism sector lawmaker Perry Yiu Pak-leung said creativity was key to keep attracting residents and visitors to drone shows by not being repetitive in content while commercial elements such as shops needed to be strengthened along the waterfront area.
“We don’t want people coming to watch the drone shows and leave right away. We need to connect the shows to nearby restaurants and hotels by offering promotions to create scenarios facilitating people to spend to boost the economy,” Yiu said.
AllRightsReserved’s Lam encouraged more creativity and innovation in show content.
“The success of the Doraemon drone shows sparking more people to do the same is just like in the past when kung fu movies were dominating. Every film in cinemas was within the same genre,” he said.
“Content is key and the intellectual property itself also plays an important role. A drone show is an interesting technological advancement as things are just happening in the sky in front of your eyes.”
Lam said the government needed to relax limitations for drones to unleash more creativity.
Sky Yeung King-sheung, chairman of industry alliance DNT FPV Drone Association Hong Kong, said the most “painful” part of hosting a drone show in the city was liaising with various departments.
Police, the Office of the Communications Authority, the Marine Department, the Highways Department, the Civil Aviation Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department were all involved, Yeung said.
“Someone interested in entering the industry may find it challenging to organise a drone show due to the necessity of coordinating with multiple departments.”
He said drone shows in Hong Kong lagged behind those elsewhere due to rules and regulations, pointing to the Paris Olympics as an example.
“The Paris Olympics featured a fireworks display integrated with drones, where the aircraft themselves carried firework systems that could be ignited in segments during flight. Introducing such a concept in Hong Kong would undoubtedly be a remarkable addition,” Yeung said.
Earlier on Monday, transport minister Lam Sai-hung said the government was actively engaged in preliminary work for the development of low-altitude economy, including promoting pilot projects and collaborating with different departments to break down policy barriers and facilitate low-altitude flight activities.


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A drone show during the Mid-Autumn Festival is a hit with spectators at the harbourfront in Wan Chai. Photo: Eugene Lee

Spectators get a buzz from the Mid-Autumn Festival drone show over the harbour. Photo: Harvey Kong

Hong Kong’s National Day fireworks to feature panda themes and opening drone show

A depiction from the show’s organiser of its recreation of bamboo groves, in a nod to the city’s growing family of pandas. Photo: Handout

One segment of the show will feature giant smiley faces and hearts. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong tells Taoist group to explain axed drone show after ‘will of heaven’ apology

An artist’s impression of the Victoria Harbour drone show. The organiser said the show’s cancellation was the “will of heaven, not a human error”. Photo: Handout 

Lee Yiu-fai, abbot of Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple. He said the rain had interfered with signals received by the drones. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong to test drone, flying car operations in ‘step-by-step’ plan but experts have doubts

The low-altitude economy across the country was estimated to reach between 3 trillion and 5 trillion yuan in 2025, a lawmaker said. Photo: Handout

Visitors tour an event showcasing electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft in Guangzhou. Photo: Xinhua

Drone show, special laser display among attractions slated for National Day in Hong Kong

The Tourism Board will hold a special laser show at 8pm on September 28 at the Wan Chai waterfront. Photo: Hong Kong Tourism Board

A drone show is held during the Mid-Autumn Festival at the Wan Chai waterfront. Photo: Eugene Lee

News

Hong Kong

Creativity is key to keep attracting people to drone shows while commercial elements also need to be strengthened, lawmaker says


Creativity is key to keep attracting people to drone shows while commercial elements also need to be strengthened, lawmaker says.
