Symposium: The Economic Power of Asia's Premier Event Capital – Where Event Economy Meets Low-Altitude Economy in Harmonious Convergence
- XSOCIAL
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
The Hong Kong Institute of Marketing (HKIM) hosted the high-level forum “The Allure and Economic Impact of Asia’s Events Capital” on 14 July 2025, bringing together heavyweight speakers from government, industry, academia and finance to dissect the multifaceted economic benefits of mega-events across Asia and Hong Kong. For the first time, the strategic framework of the “Drone Take-off Reliability Index” (DTORI) was unveiled—marking Hong Kong’s official ascent as a global standard for the low-altitude economy.
Dual Engine of Economy and Culture: The Profound Impact of Drone Light Shows
Mr. Samuel Lam Hon Yuen, CEO of X Social Group, delivered a keynote titled “Seizing First-Mover Advantage: Deconstructing Hong Kong’s New Blue Ocean in the Low-Altitude Economy”, systematically explaining how drone light-show technology creates a commercial closed loop within the events economy and charts a path toward standardisation in the low-altitude sector. Drawing on Hong Kong’s maiden drone performances above Asia World-Expo, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, and Hong Kong International Airport, Lam detailed the meticulous technical design and creative choreography that transform drones into airborne canvases—painting breathtaking aerial symphonies with dynamic formations and dazzling lights.
Lam further analysed the far-reaching significance of drone shows for Hong Kong’s events economy and overall urban development:
Economic Dimension: Drone spectacles draw massive local and overseas audiences, turbo-charging tourism. Visitors flock to Hong Kong for these unique performances, generating cascading expenditure across retail, transport, accommodation and F&B forming an end-to-end industry chain that injects robust momentum into the city’s economy.
Cultural Dimension: Drone shows have become a new cultural calling card for Hong Kong, showcasing its technological prowess, innovative spirit and cultural charisma. They strengthen citizens’ cultural confidence and sense of identity, broadcasting to the world Hong Kong’s distinctive charm as “Asia’s Events Capital”, and elevating its global cultural soft power and city brand.
Safeguarding Hong Kong’s Low-Altitude Economy: The Drone Take-off Reliability Index (DTORI)
Following the abrupt cancellation of the 2024 National Day drone show due to ionospheric interference, Chris Lam and his partners formed the DTORI Committee, uniting PolyU, China Unicom, China Merchants, HKT, DJI-Da Jiang Innovations and other leading organisations in the low-altitude sector. Their mission: to build a scientifically rigorous index system that sets Hong Kong’s aviation safety benchmark.
Core Objectives of DTORI :
Establish the world's first "Space-Air-Ground" three-dimensional dynamic LAE shared database : By integrating data from satellite remote sensing, weather radar, ground sensing networks, and drone technical specifications, and developing machine learning-based drone environmental adaptability assessment models, the database will provide a robust technological and data foundation for the low-altitude economy.
Empower the financial industry ecosystem : Develop an authoritative, scientific, and industry-relevant airworthiness certification system for the low-altitude economy. Deepen integration with financial institutions to launch innovative "low-altitude economy insurance systems," enhancing financial support for the sector.
Create social value : By creating the Open DTORI public platform, enhance public trust in the low-altitude economy and accelerate the application of drones in areas like emergency logistics and intelligent transportation to meet societal needs.
Lead international standards : Take the lead in establishing the “GBA-ASEAN Low-altitude Economy Standards Collaboration Mechanism" and promote the “GBA Drone Operations Assessment Standards Framework." Elevate HK's influence in the international low-altitude economy and facilitate regional standardization and integration.
The DTORI Committee passed the HKSAR GOV regulatory sandbox vetting on 20 March 2025, selecting China Merchants Pier as the testbed. The project integrates Hong Kong Observatory meteorological data, GIS, drone performance parameters and AI forecasting algorithms to create the world’s first city-level drone safety-flight decision-support standard—already designated as one of the SAR’s first low-altitude economy regulatory-sandbox pilots.
The Drone Take-off Reliability Index (DTORI) is more than a technology product—it is Hong Kong’s strategic fulcrum for leading the “canopy revolution” in the low-altitude economy.
By forging a globally recognised safety-assessment standard, DTORI will unblock the “Ren-Du meridians” of scaled low-altitude applications, unlock a trillion-dollar market, and propel Hong Kong from a regional hub to Global Standard Maker in the low-altitude economy. Lam invites all partners to co-create this boundless “new airspace” and collectively define the worldwide standards of tomorrow’s low-altitude economy.
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