Drone maker DJI to shut Hong Kong flagship within a week

Shenzhen-headquartered drone maker DJI is to close its Hong Kong flagship store in Causeway Bay – but the company says the move is unrelated to strict new laws restricting drone use in the territory.

The three-story, 930sqm store, which displays the brand’s range of aerial and handheld devices and includes a space where people can carry out test flights, will close from next Monday.

A sign affixed to the storefront says DJI remains committed to its customers and partners in Hong Kong and elsewhere in the world and that the company would continue to develop the industry’s most advanced drones and creative camera technology.

Responding to an inquiry from the South China Morning Post, a DJI spokesperson said the flagship’s closure reflected the company’s evolving needs and had “no connection” with the new regulations requiring drone operators to be trained and licensed to fly the devices. That law takes effect next June.

After the store’s closure, the company’s drones will remain on sale online and through authorized dealers.

DJI opened the store in September 2016. At the time it was the brand’s third retail store, following one in Shenzhen and another in Seoul.

A flight cage on the ground floor showcases drones in action and a SkyPixel Gallery on the first floor features international aerial photography. A technical support center and space for workshops, seminars, and special events are located on the second floor.

Under the new Hong Kong law, drones weighing between 250gm and 7kg must be registered, and pilots must undertake online training. Insurance will become mandatory.