Google Maps prank sees Hong Kong schools renamed

A school in Fo Tan has been renamed as “Fo Tan Sanctuary for the Severely Mentally Disabled” in Google Maps after pranksters had reportedly submitted a name change to the technology giant.

A number of local schools were found to have had their Chinese official name changed on the world's most popular map tool on Thursday.

“Fo Tan Sanctuary for the Severely Mentally Disabled” was originally Jockey Club Ti-I College on Google Maps, before the change was discovered by netizens early today. The school is famed for its efforts in developing students' potential in visual arts and sports.

Some other schools also fell victim to the prank, with Buddhist Tai Hung College renamed Nobi Nobita College, most likely due to the school’s original Chinese name having a resemblance to the fictional character in the Doraemon anime.

Fukien Secondary School in Kwun Tong was renamed Fukien Fried Rice Secondary School, while Tseung Kwan O Government Primary School was renamed Tseung Kwan O Psychiatric Hospital, according to Google Maps as of 4 pm.

Meanwhile, the prank also affected some mobile applications that use Google Maps services, including Uber, KMB app, and Lalamove, which shows the newly changed names on their map.

It is understood that renaming places on Google Maps is made possible by the platform's policy of allowing users to suggest place names.

If a business owner has not been officially registered with Google Maps, the process of renaming does not need to be verified with the place in question.