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Elizabeth Cheung

The first drone aerial photography and racing contest in the city yesterday appeared to leave some participants unhappy about the limited space available, abrupt rule changes and radio signal interference.
The FlyHK competition was held at the Hong Kong Adventist Academy, attracting 22 drone fans eager to show off their manoeuvring skills.
Competition organiser Terry Chan Wai-nok said he hoped to promote drones to a wider audience and wanted the event to become an annual carnival.
Watch: Dozens join Hong Kong’s first ever drone racing and videography competition

The competition also served as a platform for people to exchange tips. "I have seen a lot of new models here," amateur drone enthusiast Sam Pang said.
But the competition, which offered two categories for entrants - drone racing and aerial photography - ended up with complaints about the arrangements, the venue size and rule changes.
While 12 participants were confident at the start of the racing category - in which they had to fly two circuits of a combined basketball and football pitch - seven of them ended up disappointed after their drones crashed.
Kim Tang was one of them, after his drone crashed in the middle of the race. Participants were required to control their drones through a panel screen and remote control. But Tang complained that he could not see anything on the screen when his drone made a turn.
"We should be given more time to test the radio frequencies with other participants and see if there is any signal interference," said Tang, an amateur drone player.
Huang Jia-hong, a 16-year-old secondary school student who came third in the race, was dissatisfied with the size of the track. "The place was small and we could not get inside and walk with the drone when it was flying," Huang said.
Watch: Hong Kong's first ever drone contest top prize video

Race champion Raphael Pirker said the track was not easy to manoeuvre. "The course arrangement was tricky. There were lots of tight turns and we often needed to slow down," said Pirker, a Swiss drone manufacturer whose gadget can fly at 90km/h.
Sudden rule changes affecting the aerial photography contest also upset some participants, as they were told at the last minute to submit video clips.
"The organiser told me on the day before the race that photos would be needed. I hadn't prepared at all for video clips," said Nero Chan Cheuk-yuet, 22, a video producer who won third prize in aerial photography.
Watch: Hong Kong's first ever drone contest second prize video

Organiser Terry Chan said the arrangements would be reviewed, adding: "Testing time is not given in many other drone competitions.
"We will review venue issues and see what we can adjust."


Competitors grumble over problems with Hong Kong's first ever drone contest

Participant Nero Chan learned about drones was two years ago, when he was on a working holiday in Australia. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Drone manufacturer Raphael Pirker steers his speed machine to first place in the FlyHK race at the Hong Kong Adventist Academy yesterday. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

The drone flying contest came with a dose of controversy. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

One of the drones entered into the FlyHK competition. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Hot shots: Hong Kong through the lenses of three very different photographers

Mong Kok from overhead (click to launch photo gallery). Photo: Nero Chan

Chan's friend standing on High Junk Peak.

Streets in Sheung Shui (above) and Fanling (below)

Chan with his drone.

Nero and his family.

A Hong Kong lacrosse team player.

Eye in the sky: "I wanted to capture a record of the demonstations — the protesters, the police, the tear gas — from a different angle," Nero says. "I had no idea the video would spread around the world so quickly." 

A crested goshawk.

Polytechnic University and the Cross Harbour Tunnel.

Farmland in Sheung Shui.

A Gordonia axillaris, or fried egg plant, on Violet Hill.

A bamboo snake.

Common tiger butterflies at Pui O.

A ghost crab on Cheung Chau.

A cyclist on the old Tung Chung Road.

Japanese runner Kazuaki Hoshino competes in the Sai Kung Skyrunning Championship Race 2015.

Nepalese athlete Mira Rai tackles Violet Hill.

Jin Hwa gets to grips with Dogs Teeth Ridge on Lantau Island.

News

Hong Kong

Education

Tech

The first drone aerial photography and racing contest in the city on Sunday appeared to leave some participants unhappy about the limited space available, abrupt rule changes and radio signal interference.
