Mainland woman granted bail after flying drone into PLA’s garrison

A retired mainland woman has been granted bail after she was prosecuted for flying a drone into the People’s Liberation Army’s garrison in Central without a permit last Wednesday. 

The 58-year-old defendant Yang Bixia, arriving in Hong Kong on a two-way permit, faces two counts of failure to follow basic requirements for operating small unmanned aircraft for flights. 

The charge alleged Yang of operating an unregistered drone as an unregistered pilot near the garrison on November 22. 

She also faces two other counts of flying the drone in the restricted area without a permit. 

The case was heard before principal magistrate Ivy Chui Yee-mei at Eastern Court on Thursday. Chui then adjourned the hearing to January 25, pending the prosecution to retrieve legal advice.