Models dressed as "Google Pegman" promote the launch of Google Maps Street View services in Wan Chai Friday. EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY

Locals and visitors looking for that cozy corner or interested in exploring the neighborhood around a prospective flat can now do so virtually with Hong Kong's Google Street View, launched Friday.

A companion service for the search engine's wildly successful Google Maps, Street View offers a panoramic view similar to the scenery one might observe from a leisurely stroll.

Its coverage includes the city's major transportation routes and highways, the view of which users can access from any Web browser or smart phone compatible with Google Maps.

The service, which now covers Hong Kong, Macao and Taipei, may take some time before becoming available on the Chinese mainland, said Caroline Hsu, Head of Communications at Google.

During the service's launch in Wan Chai Friday, Hsu said there was no timetable for extending the service to major mainland cities, but added that the company wants to expand the service to as many places as possible.

"Google needs to conform with local legal issues and there is a range of different departments which need to be consulted first," she said.

Google engineer Tom Tam Wai-hong said the company has to prioritize its limited resources. Accordingly, it chose Hong Kong because of the city's international reputation.

Tam said Google has designated a committee that will be responsible for selecting the order in which cities receive the company's services.

As for Hong Kong, Google found plentiful challenges in mapping the city's winding streets. The process took the virtual giant nearly two years to complete because of the city's dense traffic, narrow roads, erratic weather and a skyline dominated by reflecting skyscrapers - characteristics which made it very difficult for the crew to capture the city from their camera car, Hsu said.

Google's Street View car covered about 7,912 kilometers in Hong Kong - much more than the mere 1,290 kilometers covered in Macao.

Street View covers more than 200 cities and is available through Google's maps service. Users can use the program to move between its traditional top down view and street level view by clicking and dragging a yellow man icon called Pegman, found on the left hand side, onto roads highlighted in blue.

To protect privacy, the program blurs all faces and car license plates. Street View is an innovative program that allows people to see their vacation destination and make a relevant, detailed traveling plan to explore new places and survey historic neighborhoods. In turn, vacation spots can promote hotels and store fronts among many other things. The program has been a welcome addition to the city's tourism sector. Kenneth Wong, the head of product marketing for the Hong Kong Tourism Board, has hailed Street View as a great resource to inspire and inform tourists of the city's quaint mix of old, new, and Eastern and Western influences.

(HK Edition 03/13/2010 page1)