Request format for Address Lookup Service (XML Output)

GET request:

https://www.als.gov.hk/lookup?q=<input address in free text format>

POST request:

POST /lookup HTTP/1.1
Host: www.als.gov.hk
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded; charset=utf-8
Content-Length: <number of bytes in the body of the request>

q=<input address in free-text format>

Notes:

This web service allows data consumers to look up address records using simple address element information [for example (a) building name, (b) street name and number or (c) estate name and block number]. The service will also search for addresses with spelling or pronunciation similar to the user input information for reference use.

• Input parameters:
• "q" – input address element information (mandatory; URL-encoded(percent-encoded));
• "n" – maximum number of records to be returned (optional; range: 1-200; default: 200);
• "t" – tolerance on returned record scores (optional; range: 0-80; default: 35);
• "b" – enable/disable basic searching mode, default disabled (optional; range: 0 or 1; default: 0).
• The request and response are encoded in UTF-8.
• The data output format, language (Chinese / English / Both Chinese and English) and compression method can be specified using the HTTP header parameters: Accept=application/xml, Accept-Language=en,zh-Hant and Accept-Encoding=gzip
• Please refer to the "Data Dictionary" for details.