Map Collection

1. Map Collection

Maps and charts are graphic representations made to selected scale and orientation. There is a wide variety of them. Classification is thus based on its scale, function, or form of representation (e.g. flat sheet, small craft editions, folded, bounded atlas, molded plastic, and maps affixed to the surface of a globe).

Classification by scale: Map scales are the ratio between the dimensions of the map and those of reality.

In general, it can be classified into four broad groups: Small-scale topographic maps of large areas (e.g. 1:1000 HPIC series, 1:5,000 HP5C) ; Large-scale maps with details of smaller areas (1: 50,000, 1: 100,000 ; Special purpose, or thematic maps that illustrate any graphically represented subject data ;  Large-scale navigation charts for use in water and air with the use of aerial photography.

 

1.1 Hong Kong maps

a)    Scaled map sheet series

Hong Kong Historical Map series (Imperial system)

·         1: 600         (HK, Kowloon – the oldest published without height or contour information)

• 1: 1,200      (New Territories & outlying islands ~ 50’s)
• 1: 2,400
• 1: 4,800
• 1: 9,600
• 1: 10,000     
• 1: 20,000     (GSGS 3868 made by AMS & GSGS)
• 1: 25,000     (L882, L8811 Series)          
• 1: 100,000

Hong Kong Current Maps series (Metric system) since in early 70’s

• 1: 1,000
• 1: 2,500      
• 1: 5,000      (produced since mid-70’s ; 1996 with digital form)
• 1: 7,500
• 1: 10,000
• 1: 20,000
• 1: 50,000     (1^st bilingual topographic maps)      
• 1: 100,000
• 1: 200,000

b)   Classification by function or subject

General reference maps: These cover all geographic regions and show a variety of both physical and cultural features. For instance,

HK official urban & town maps, folded maps & streetmap sheet-sets (e.g. 1:10000 SM10C Series since 1998)
HK guide book streets & places (e.g. Hong Kong Guide 1^st published in 1988)

Thematic maps & others: While they include both physical and cultural information, these kinds of maps display only one or two aspects of the natural environment. For instance,

Airport height control plans
HK countryside maps                      (1^st published since 1971 in waterproof texture)
HK geological maps                        (e.g. HGM20, HGP5, HGM100 series)
HK land utilization maps                  (LUM/HK/75 series)
HK outline zoning maps

Photobooks                                  (e.g. Hong Kong Now and Then=今日昔日香港 : 香港航空照片集 etc.)

Hong Kong in its regional setting, including the Pearl River Delta    (e.g. HM300C, PRDM Series)

        

 

Navigation Charts: These are designed to serve the needs of navigators, nautical and aeronautical users. For instance, nautical charts are produced for marine navigation. They contain information on navigational aids, such as buoys, beacons, lighthouses, radio and radar station, shipping channels and others. Channel depths and near-shore depths are depicted by soundings, fathom lines and layer tints. Unlike topographic maps, the scales of charts vary depending on the details necessary and thus chart series are not made at a uniform scale. 

Hong Kong helicopter flying chart. (e.g. HM50HFC and HM100LFC Series)

Old nautical charts from Hydrographic Office Great Britain. 

Hong Kong Harbour from Hong Kong (China). Marine Dept. Hydrographic Office. (e.g. HK0802/03)

 

1.2 Aerial Photography Collection

Acquired chiefly through Departmental Fund and Main Library Book Fund, the aerial photographs of the Map Library consists of around 14,100 stereoscopic prints mainly in black and white but also some in color. Most of these are vertical and some of them are oblique photographs. Our collection of aerial photographs covers most regions of Hong Kong recorded between 1924 and 1996. It includes:-

1924	HK Island, Tsuen Wan & Tsing Yi, High Island, Sha Tin, Tin Shui Wai, Sheung Shui, Fanling, Lantau Island
1954	Lantau Island, New Territories (Flying height 16,700 ft.)
1956	Whole territory (Flying height 16,700 ft.)
1963	Whole territory (Flying height 3,900 ft.)
1975-78	HK Island & Kowloon (Flying height: 1,500 ft. to 12,250 ft.)
1985	Whole territory (Flying height: 10,000 ft.)
1986	HK & Kowloon & new towns (Flying height: 4,000 ft.)
1993	Yuen Long, Fanling, Sheung Shui (Flying height: 4,000 ft.)
1994	Kowloon, San Tin, Tuen Mun, Sha Tin (Flying height: 4,000 ft.)
1995	Whole territory (Flying height: 10,000 ft.)
1996	HK, Kowloon, Sai Kung, Fanling & Sheung Shui, San Tin, Yuen Long, Tung Chung and Tsing Yi (Flying height: 4,000 ft.)

The collection is arranged by years and has been indexed and further matched with flight diagram indexes. Some pocket-sized viewers are available for users to view photographs stereoscopically.

 

1.3 Worldwide Aeronautical Charts, world maps and atlases  

Foreign Aeronautical Charts

-          TPC 1:500,000. Tactical Pilot Charts

-          ONC 1:1,000,000 Operation Nav. Chart

-          LCAO 1:1,000,000 International Civil Aviation Organization

 

World Series map sets

-          GSGS Series (eg.Asia - GSGS 4646, 4691 etc) ;

-          1: 2,500,00 Hungarian People Republic

-          Ordnance Survey map of Britain (eg. OS Langranger Series) , etc

 

Here are just some unique collections highlight and not the exhaustive listing. Find out more when the library is open or search in our Library's online catalog.