China's Meituan launches first drone delivery route in Hong Kong

The first drone-powered food delivery route in south China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was launched on June 6, as a Keeta drone lifted off from Hong Kong Science Park in Sha Tin and delivered food to Ma On Shan Promenade.

Covering a distance of 1.8 kilometers across the sea, the drone completed the delivery in just five minutes, in sharp contrast to the 40-minute journey typical for road couriers, who need to drive 7.8 kilometers.

The service, operated by Keeta, a subsidiary of China's leading food delivery platform Meituan, is part of a pilot program under Hong Kong's new regulatory sandbox for the low-altitude economy, introduced by the HKSAR government in late 2024.

"Hong Kong will continue to facilitate the development of the low-altitude economy," said Michael Wong, deputy financial secretary of the HKSAR government and head of the Working Group on Developing Low-Altitude Economy, during the launch ceremony. 

Wong added that commercial projects in the low-altitude economy will be market-led. The government will work to break down regulatory barriers and provide supporting infrastructure, he said.

According to Wong, the second phase of the regulatory sandbox will open for applications in the coming months.

Meituan plans to expand service coverage, including opening a new drone route between the science park and residential areas in Ma On Shan, with deliveries made to automated aerial drop-off lockers, according to the company's vice president, Mao Yiping,