Want to find the nearest theater to see a movie? Google Maps Hong Kong launched yesterday may be able to help you.

Google maps are web-based interactive maps provided by Google that include street maps, a route planner and an urban business locator for different countries around the world.

"Google Maps Hong Kong is an open platform with powerful search and Hong Kong features," said Chien Lee-feng, engineer director of the research and development center of Google Taiwan and Hong Kong at a press conference.

Google found that Hong Kong people tend to locate destinations by building names rather than by street names, so the new search engine allows users to search by building names which is unique from other Google maps.

Google Maps Hong Kong is also the only Google geographic search engine which offers bilingual search. In addition to traditional Chinese or English character input, users can search by indicating the number of strokes in the first Chinese character of the name of the location.

As an open platform which is different from traditional electronic maps, Google Maps Hong Kong enables users to input text, upload photos and videos to customize maps for personal use or to share publicly.

Companies can also add business listing on the maps for free advertisement.

Google has been working with local websites to come up with more useful functions.

For instance, users can get the location of a cinema and its showtimes using Google Maps Hong Kong. They can also look for the exact locations of Wi-Fi hotspots via the search engine.

With mini-applications provided by third parties, Google Maps Hong Kong also provides updated local information such as real-time traffic view and train information.

Chien added that services have been expanded to allow mobile phone users access to Google Maps Hong Kong.

"Following YouTube Hong Kong and Google Maps Hong Kong, we will launch more localized products in stages," said Preston Lau, general manager of Google Hong Kong.

Google allows its staff to spend 20 percent of their working hours to develop projects in which they feel interested.

In 2006, two of its Hong Kong engineers realized the demand for a localized search engine for locations and directions, so they started to research on that and hence led to the birth of Google Maps Hong Kong.

Partners of Google Maps Hong Kong include the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, PCCW, HKEdCity.net, and FilmPlay.com.

(HK Edition 07/23/2008 page1)