[1]: iv The primary need for Romanisation of Cantonese by the Hong Kong Government is in the assigning of names to new streets and places.
The code book system is devoid of any tone indications and, being grossly simplified, is susceptible to confusion.
Although the code book has only been available for several decades, the Romanisation approach for place names in Hong Kong has been broadly consistent since before 1888.
This can be seen in maps of the period[2] and in the government's publication A Gazetteer of Place Names in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories of 1960.
Romanisation of names is mandatory in government identification documents such as identity cards issued by the Registration of Persons Office.