Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Lands Department (LandsD) today (December 10) launched the revamped GeoInfo Map (www.map.gov.hk) and the new Hong Kong GeoData Store (geodata.gov.hk). The services will enhance public access to the Government’s web map service, and enable public discovery and application of geospatial data published by the Government in a systematic manner for various innovation and information technology applications, so as to facilitate smart city development and geospatial data applications.

     The GeoInfo Map is a web map service launched by the Survey and Mapping Office of the LandsD in May 2010. It provides free and convenient public access to accurate maps of Hong Kong, as well as providing the location and related information of various public facilities and services. Since its launch, the LandsD has been working closely with 29 government departments for the delivery of up-to-date map services and geospatial data to the public, and the geospatial data provided through the GeoInfo Map has been enhanced from 120 to 270 types of public facilities.

     The new GeoInfo Map strives to provide better quality web map services to the general public, and also give enhanced support to the GovHK portal (www.gov.hk). As a web map and information platform higher in performance and quality, the new GeoInfo Map enables government departments to release to the public the latest geospatial data. The public can conveniently access digital maps using various platforms including tablet computers and smart phones, as well as integrate various geospatial data for different applications. Users can also leave feedback and suggestions to the LandsD on how to further enhance the map services.

     The new website provides useful map tools and an enhanced location search engine which supports various search modes to improve usability and search efficiency. The latest map interface enables users to search for various types of real-time information including weather, traffic, air and beach water quality. The newly introduced “geo-hashtags” feature makes it easier for users to explore and obtain location information. To facilitate web surfing with tablet computers and smartphones, a responsive web design has been introduced to automatically detect and adapt to the device in use for a smoother user experience. In future, the LandsD will develop an Application Programming Interface (API) of web map services, so as to allow software developers to directly use government-provided map services in their applications. The LandsD will also explore upgrading progressively the current digital map into a 3D digital map, so as to further enhance map and geospatial information services.

     The Hong Kong Smart City Blueprint announced by the Government in late 2017 puts forward the strategy to promote using open data for smart city innovations, and to develop the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI) as a smart city infrastructure, so as to facilitate the sharing of geospatial data and support various smart city applications requiring geospatial data. The Hong Kong GeoData Store is the alpha version portal for the CSDI. Users can explore through the portal different geospatial datasets provided by various government departments, including government premises and facilities, schools, hospitals, clinics, community and social services facilities, cultural, leisure and sports facilities, postal services facilities and job centres. The portal also provides a user-friendly map interface for users to easily browse and understand various geospatial datasets.

     As a first step, the Hong Kong GeoData Store has converted 79 types of public facility geospatial data sourced from the GeoInfo Map into open and machine-readable formats of GeoJSON, GML, KML and CSV together with an API to facilitate free download and use by the public. The portal is also equipped with other useful API services, including the Location Search API, Search Nearby API and Identity API to support innovative map applications by developers, saving time and cost when developing applications.

     In future, as the Government is developing the CSDI, the LandsD will continue making new geospatial datasets related to the city’s built environment and facilities, as well as improving access to various open data of public services through the Hong Kong GeoData Store in both machine-readable downloadable data and APIs. We will continue to enrich the coverage and content of the CSDI, so as to allow various industries to make more and better use of spatial data in support of smart city development, realising the vision of the Hong Kong Smart City Blueprint.

     A spokesman for the LandsD said that continued enhancement of quality digital map services, development of the CSDI, and opening up more geospatial data all contribute to facilitating smart city applications in collaboration with the public and private sectors, helping to reap the potential benefits by creating economic and social values. Looking forward, the LandsD will continue to collaborate with government departments and various public and private sector organisations to progressively enhance digital map services and introduce more geospatial data, so as to support uses in value-added reuse, innovations, researches and analysis, and providing necessary infrastructure and conditions for smart city, smart government and smart living. read more

     The Transport Department (TD) today (December 10) announced that special arrangements will be implemented for reserving Ad Hoc Quotas for Cross Boundary Private Cars in relation to the suspension of operation of relevant Mainla… read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (December 10) that due to bi… read more

     In response to media enquiries, the Immigration Department (ImmD) does not comment on individual cases.      According to the prevailing practice of the ImmD, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSA… read more

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Yidan Prize Award Presentation Ceremony 2018 this evening (December 9):
 
Dr Chen (Founder of the Yidan Prize, Dr Charles Chen), Your Royal Highness (Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands), Mrs Machel (Child rights advocate and humanitarian, Mrs Graca Machel), the Right Honourable Mr Brown (United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Right Honourable Mr Gordon Brown), laureates, your excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening. It is a great pleasure to join you for tonight’s Yidan Prize Presentation Ceremony.
 
     At last year’s inaugural Prize Presentation Ceremony, I commended Yidan Prize founder Dr Charles Chen for his vision and extraordinary contribution to education, here in Hong Kong and around the world. Though the Yidan Prize is still at its infancy, I can see that it is already connecting a world of educational innovators, researchers and policymakers. Such connectivity is bound to help education to excel.
 
     Tonight, we are congratulating this year’s Yidan Prize Laureates, Professor Larry Hedges and Professor Anant Agarwal, who have made exemplary efforts in helping our young people to excel. I should add that our two laureates were chosen from among nearly 1 000 nominations spanning more than 90 countries. That, ladies and gentlemen, is remarkable testament to the sterling achievement of the two distinguished professors as well as the global reach and reputation of the Yidan Prize.
 
      This year’s Yidan Prize Laureates are impressive and inspiring recipients. Professor Hedges, the 2018 Yidan Prize for Education Research Laureate, is a global leader in applied statistics. His landmark work has shown the way and the value in taking a scientific approach to improving education.
 
     Professor Agarwal, this year’s Education Development Laureate, is honoured for applying technology to education, giving learners around the world access to high-quality education. Professor Agarwal is the founder and CEO of edX, an online learning platform that has helped millions of students around the world since its launch in 2012.
 
     While we will learn more about the laureates’ respective work in the video later on, I have no doubt that they share one thing in common, that is, both of them are deeply aware that education is a powerful tool in addressing many of the world’s most daunting problems, and the best that we as parents, teachers or officials can give to the younger generation is education. My Government is equally committed to education, to ensuring that it is comprehensive, that it is of the highest quality, that it is available to all, whatever their background, whatever their financial means. What we are still searching for answers is the best approach to nurturing our young minds to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world and to rise to challenges brought by advances in technology.
 
     In my Election Manifesto when campaigning for the position of the Chief Executive in early 2017, I said talent is the most important element in Hong Kong’s continued development, and education is the key to nurturing talent. I pledged that Government expenditure on education is the most significant investment for our future. 
 
     Since taking office last July, I have committed some HK$8.3 billion in our annual recurrent expenditure on education, or an increase of over 10 per cent. At the same time, I have invited some 70 education experts to help us review various aspects of our education policies. 
 
     I know of course that money alone is not enough – and never will be. We need to be guided by evidence in improving our education and by applying technology in so many relevant ways to help students to learn and excel. These are areas we have to thank this year’s Yidan Prize recipients for their wonderful work.
 
     My congratulations once again to Professor Hedges and Professor Agarwal, and I wish everyone a most enjoyable evening. Thank you very much. read more