# Lands Department

> map department of the Hong Kong Government

**Wikidata**: [Q10928291](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10928291)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lands_Department_(Hong_Kong))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lands-department

## Summary
The Lands Department (LandsD) is the map department of the Hong Kong Government, responsible for land administration, surveying, and mapping services. It operates under the Development Bureau and manages key functions including the production and maintenance of official maps and land records. Established in 1993, it replaced the Buildings and Lands Department and continues to play a central role in Hong Kong’s land management infrastructure.

## Key Facts
- Officially established on **August 1, 1993**, replacing the **Buildings and Lands Department**
- Parent organization history:
  - **Development Bureau** since **July 1, 2007**
  - Previously under **Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau** (**2002–2007**)
  - Then **Planning and Lands Bureau** (**2000–2002**)
  - Earlier **Planning, Environment and Lands Bureau** (**1997–1999**)
- Headquarters located at **North Point Government Offices**
- Operates under the jurisdiction of **Hong Kong**
- Instance of: **government agency**, **national mapping agency**, **map publishing company**
- Subsidiaries include:
  - **Lands Administration Office**
  - **Survey and Mapping Office**
- Official website: [https://www.landsd.gov.hk](https://www.landsd.gov.hk) (in Chinese)
- Social media presence:
  - Facebook: [Hkmapping](https://www.facebook.com/Hkmapping)
  - Instagram: [@hkmapping](https://www.instagram.com/hkmapping) (verified)
  - Threads: [@hkmapping](https://www.threads.net/@hkmapping) (verified)
- Email: [landsd@landsd.gov.hk](mailto:landsd@landsd.gov.hk)
- Privacy policy: [English version](https://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/privacy-policy-statement.html)
- Sitemap: [English sitemap](https://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/sitemap.html)
- Image: [地政總署.gif](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/地政總署.gif)
- Aliases: LandsD, Hong Kong Lands Department, HKLD, 香港地政總署, 地政署
- Wikidata ID: Q328
- Freebase ID: /m/0120wb9n
- Wikipedia titles in: **Commons**, **English**, **Chinese**, **Chinese (Yue)**

## FAQs

### What is the Lands Department?
The Lands Department (LandsD) is a government agency in Hong Kong responsible for land administration, surveying, and mapping. It was established in 1993 and is currently under the Development Bureau.

### What organizations is it a member of or related to?
It is part of the Hong Kong Government and currently operates under the **Development Bureau**. Historically, it was under:
- **Planning, Environment and Lands Bureau** (1997–1999)
- **Planning and Lands Bureau** (2000–2002)
- **Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau** (2002–2007)

### What services or functions does it provide?
It manages land records, conducts surveys, and produces official maps. It also oversees the **Lands Administration Office** and the **Survey and Mapping Office**.

### Where is it located?
Its headquarters are located at the **North Point Government Offices** in Hong Kong.

### How can the public contact the Lands Department?
The public can reach the department via email at [landsd@landsd.gov.hk](mailto:landsd@landsd.gov.hk) or through its official website [landsd.gov.hk](https://www.landsd.gov.hk).

### What is its digital presence like?
It maintains verified social media accounts on:
- **Facebook** as [Hkmapping](https://www.facebook.com/Hkmapping)
- **Instagram** as [@hkmapping](https://www.instagram.com/hkmapping)
- **Threads** as [@hkmapping](https://www.threads.net/@hkmapping)

### What is its legal or administrative status?
It is classified as a **government agency**, **national mapping agency**, and **map publishing company**. It is subject to the jurisdiction of **Hong Kong**.

## Why It Matters
The Lands Department is essential to Hong Kong’s public infrastructure, providing authoritative land and mapping data critical for urban planning, property development, and public services. Its work supports legal land ownership, infrastructure projects, and environmental planning. As the official map department, it ensures the accuracy and accessibility of geographic information, which is foundational to governance and commerce in a high-density city like Hong Kong.

## Notable For
- Being the **primary mapping agency** for the Hong Kong Government
- Managing the **transition from the Buildings and Lands Department** in 1993
- Hosting **verified social media accounts** to engage with the public
- Producing and maintaining **official topographic maps** of Hong Kong
- Hosting a **multilingual digital presence** including English, Traditional Chinese, and Cantonese
- Operating under multiple bureaus over time, reflecting evolving government structures

## Body

### History
The Lands Department was established on **August 1, 1993**, succeeding the **Buildings and Lands Department**. It was created to centralize land-related functions under a more specialized structure. Since its inception, it has undergone several reorganizations under different bureaus:
- **Planning, Environment and Lands Bureau** (until 1999)
- **Planning and Lands Bureau** (2000–2002)
- **Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau** (2002–2007)
- **Development Bureau** (from July 1, 2007)

These transitions reflect the government’s evolving approach to land and urban planning.

### Organizational Structure
The Lands Department is a **government agency** and also functions as a **national mapping agency** and **map publishing company**. It operates under the **Development Bureau** and manages two key subsidiaries:
- **Lands Administration Office**
- **Survey and Mapping Office**

These offices support the department’s core functions in land registration, cadastral surveying, and map production.

### Functions and Services
The department is responsible for:
- Land administration
- Surveying and mapping
- Publishing official maps
- Maintaining land records

It also provides public access to geographic and cadastral data through its website and digital platforms.

### Digital Presence and Public Engagement
The Lands Department maintains a strong digital presence to improve public access and transparency:
- **Website**: [landsd.gov.hk](https://www.landsd.gov.hk) (in Chinese)
- **Social media**:
  - Facebook: [Hkmapping](https://www.facebook.com/Hkmapping)
  - Instagram: [@hkmapping](https://www.instagram.com/hkmapping) (verified)
  - Threads: [@hkmapping](https://www.threads.net/@hkmapping) (verified)
- **Email**: [landsd@landsd.gov.hk](mailto:landsd@landsd.gov.hk)
- **Sitemap**: [English sitemap](https://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/sitemap.html)
- **Privacy policy**: [English version](https://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/privacy-policy-statement.html)

### Headquarters and Contact Information
The department is headquartered at the **North Point Government Offices**, a central location in Hong Kong. Contact information, including email and office hours, is available on its [official website](https://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/about-us/access-information.html).

### Related Projects and Platforms
The department contributes to:
- **National mapping initiatives**
- **Urban planning support**
- **Public land data systems**

Its maps and data are used by government agencies, private developers, and the public.

### Legal and Administrative Framework
As a **government agency**, it operates under the jurisdiction of **Hong Kong**. It is also recognized as a **national mapping agency** and **map publishing company**, giving it authority in cartographic and cadastral matters.

### Wikidata and External Identifiers
- **Wikidata ID**: Q328
- **Freebase ID**: /m/0120wb9n
- **Wikipedia languages**: Commons, English, Chinese, Chinese (Yue)
- **Commons Category**: Lands Department (Hong Kong)

### Image and Branding
The department uses the file [地政總署.gif](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/地政總署.gif) as its official image. It is known by several names:
- LandsD
- Hong Kong Lands Department
- HKLD
- 香港地政總署
- 地政署

Its branding emphasizes clarity, accessibility, and public service.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/about-us/access-information.html)