GeoInfo Map Hong Kong Lands Department Interactive Geospatial Portal

Overview

GeoInfo Map is a free public web mapping service operated by the Survey and Mapping Office (SMO) of the Hong Kong Lands Department (LandsD). Launched on 26 May 2010, it provides the general public with convenient access to accurate, up-to-date digital maps of Hong Kong and integrated geospatial information contributed by government departments.

History and Development

The origins of GeoInfo Map trace back to 2003, when LandsD's Land Information Centre developed an internal intranet platform called the HKSAR Geospatial Information Hub (GIH) to support geospatial data sharing across government departments. The public-facing GeoInfo Map was launched in 2010 as a logical extension of this infrastructure to serve citizens directly. In December 2018, a substantially revamped version was released alongside the new Hong Kong GeoData Store, improving interface design, expanding data types from 120 to 270 categories of public facilities, and adding real-time information feeds for weather, traffic, and air quality. In December 2022, the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI) Portal was launched to further advance Hong Kong's smart city strategy, with GeoInfo Map remaining a core component of that ecosystem.

Collections and Features

GeoInfo Map integrates base map layers, photo maps (ortho-imagery), and facility data contributed by 29 or more government departments. Users can search by GPS coordinates, place names, addresses, building names, lot information, and lamp post numbers. The portal supports categories such as sports and recreation, health, libraries, schools, government offices, and hiking trails. Tools include drawing tools, route planning, a geo-tagging tool for converting tabular data into spatial form, and an API layer for developers. The portal is accessible via desktop, tablet, and smartphone, and is offered in Chinese and English.

Access and Usage

GeoInfo Map is freely accessible at www.map.gov.hk with no registration required. Infrastructure and hosting are maintained by the Digital Policy Office of the HKSAR Government, while map content and building information are provided by the Lands Department. Open data from the portal is available in GeoJSON, GML, KML, and CSV formats via the Hong Kong GeoData Store and the CSDI Portal.