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The Rocks is one of the oldest neighbourhoods on the edge of the CBD in Sydney, encroached by ever larger office blocks. The Rocks is a historic neighborhood located in the heart of Sydney, Australia, known for its cobblestone streets, colonial-era buildings, and rich cultural heritage. In the 20th century, the area faced the threat of demolition as part of urban renewal plans to modernize Sydney's waterfront. However, in the 1970s, a grassroots movement led by local residents, activists, and heritage organizations rallied to save The Rocks from destruction. Their efforts resulted in the establishment of the Rocks Resumption Act in 1971, which preserved the area's historic buildings and led to its revitalization as a heritage precinct. Today, The Rocks is a thriving tourist destination, offering visitors a glimpse into Sydney's colonial past through its preserved architecture, museums, galleries, and vibrant markets. The successful preservation of The Rocks stands as a testament to the power of community activism and the importance of protecting cultural heritage in urban development.
#156: As of 6/27/22, of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #156 in most # of faves.
#177: As of 5/9/22, under Flickr's popularity rankings of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #177 in "interestingness."
#342: As of 5/9/22, of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #342 in most # of comments.
For a fun interlude, this is an alternative/filtered image based off one of my popular pics posted here on flickr in the last year+. This particular image was generated with the help of the FaceApp application, where I took a photo of the original "2020-02-12-pic31" pic I've posted here, then just applied a simple filter. This was done in part to help with the graininess or the poor lighting in the original - and to have some fun with light filtering.
The day this pic was originally taken, Feb 12, 2020, is still the last opportunity I've had for dressing up and going out en femme. It was about a month before everything shut down because of coronavirus, and (most impactful for my femme activity) about a month before my wife's company's office closed permanently, leaving her to work from home every day since then.
I'm still hopeful for some occasional resumption of outside femme activity someday. Anyhow, when the opportunity does arise, I hope I can capture some of the magic I had this day from 2020. What do you think? :-)
So that dear friends is the end of our visit to The Tribe of the Three Gorges at Longjin Stream.
Back to the Century Diamond and a resumption of the travel down the Yangtze River.
#35: As of 1/23/23, under Flickr's popularity rankings of my 3300+ pics, this is listed as #35 in "interestingness."
#368: As of 5/4/21, of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #368 in most # of faves.
#382: As of 5/4/22, of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #382 in most # of comments.
For a fun interlude, this is an alternative/filtered image based off one of my popular pics posted here on flickr in the last year+. This particular image was generated with the help of the FaceApp application, where I took a photo of the original "2020-02-12-pic31" pic I've posted here, then just applied a simple filter. This was done in part to help with the graininess or the poor lighting in the original - and to have some fun with light filtering.
The day this pic was originally taken, Feb 12, 2020, is still the last opportunity I've had for dressing up and going out en femme. It was about a month before everything shut down because of coronavirus, and (most impactful for my femme activity) about a month before my wife's company's office closed permanently, leaving her to work from home every day since then.
I'm still hopeful for some occasional resumption of outside femme activity someday. Anyhow, when the opportunity does arise, I hope I can capture some of the magic I had this day from 2020. What do you think? :-)
#94: As of 5/4/21, of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #94 in most # of faves.
#98: As of 3/5/22, under Flickr's popularity rankings of my 3100+ pics, this is listed as #98 in "interestingness."
#544: As of 3/3/22, of my 3100+ pics, this is listed as #544 in most # of comments.
For a fun interlude, this is an alternative/filtered image based off one of my popular pics posted here on flickr in the last year+. This particular image was generated with the help of the FaceApp application, where I took a photo of the original "2020-02-12-pic05" pic I've posted here, then just applied a simple filter. This was done in part to help with the graininess or the poor lighting in the original - and to have some fun with light filtering.
The day this pic was originally taken, Feb 12, 2020, is still the last opportunity I've had for dressing up and going out en femme. It was about a month before everything shut down because of coronavirus, and (most impactful for my femme activity) about a month before my wife's company's office closed permanently, leaving her to work from home every day since then.
I'm still hopeful for some (limited) resumption of femme activity, and look forward to a short out-of-town trip my wife is planning for a colleague's wedding. I may be able to fit in some dressing up while my son is in school one of the days.
Anyhow, when the opportunity does arise, I hope I can capture some of the magic I had this day from just over 2 years ago. What do you think? :-)
A line up of 700s and 313s at Hornsey depot on Boxing Day 2018, awaiting the resumption of service the following day. This should be the last Christmas of 313 operation.
LNER Class A4 Pacific 4-6-2 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley in BR Blue and guest locomotive Great Western Railway Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' create a magical combination, awaiting the resumption of their onward journeys to Grosmont and Pickering respectively, on 28th September 2014, the third and final day of the NYMR Autumn Gala.
#99: As of 3/30/22, under Flickr's popularity rankings of my 3100+ pics, this is listed as #99 in "interestingness."
#305: As of 3/15/21, of my 3100+ pics, this is listed as #305 in most # of faves.
#372: As of 3/15/22, of my 3100+ pics, this is listed as #372 in most # of comments.
For a fun interlude, this is an alternative/filtered image based off one of my popular pics posted here on flickr in the last year+. This particular image was generated with the help of the FaceApp application, where I took a photo of the original "2020-02-12-pic09" pic I've posted here, then just applied a simple filter. This was done in part to help with the graininess or the poor lighting in the original - and to have some fun with light filtering.
The day this pic was originally taken, Feb 12, 2020, is still the last opportunity I've had for dressing up and going out en femme. It was about a month before everything shut down because of coronavirus, and (most impactful for my femme activity) about a month before my wife's company's office closed permanently, leaving her to work from home every day since then.
I'm still hopeful for some (limited) resumption of femme activity, and look forward to a short out-of-town trip my wife is planning for a colleague's wedding. I may be able to fit in some dressing up while my son is in school one of the days.
Anyhow, when the opportunity does arise, I hope I can capture some of the magic I had this day from just over 2 years ago. What do you think? :-)
31st March 2017
LNER A3 60103 Flying Scotsman passing Salt Lake cottages approaching Ribblehead with the Settle & Carlisle re-opening special from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway to Carlisle and return. The train was marking the first day of resumption of through services on the route following the repair of the landslip which occurred at Eden Brows just over a year ago.
Apartadero ferroviario de Agost, un antiguo nudo ferroviario olvidado con una triste historia que contar...
Ferrocarril Alcoi-Agost; historias de despilfarros en la España del S.XX...
Alcoi, una de de las ciudades industriales más importantes de la Provincia de Alicante empezó a pedir un tren que la uniera con la capital de su Provincia y su puerto ya desde finales del S.XIX.
No fue hasta la Dictadura del General Primo de Rivera, al amparo del llamado “Plan Guadalhorce de Ferrocarriles” en el que los Alcoyanos empezaron a tener esperanza.
En el año 1926, se empezaron a construir las infraestructuras del Ferrocarril de vía ancha entre Alcoi y Agost. La nueva línea partiría de la estación del Ferrocarril a Valencia por Xàtiva existente en la ciudad desde 1893.
Con una longitud total ligeramente superior a los 66 Km, el nuevo Ferrocarril empalmaría en Agost con el Ferrocarril Madrid-Alicante de la antigua compañía M.Z.A. Para así poder llegar a la Capital Provincial sin desdoblar la línea.
Debido a la complicada orografía en la que se encuentra Alcoy se tuvieron que construir varios túneles y viaductos para que el tren pudiera llegar a la ciudad. Retrasándose la obra hasta el año 1932 cuando finalmente quedó ejecutada con todas sus infraestructuras, y a falta sólo del tendido de las vías y de la construcción de las estaciones intermedias entre Alcoi a Agost empalme (Ibi, Castalla, Tibi y Agost-Ciudad).
En 1936 con el inicio de la Guerra Civil las obras quedaron paralizadas. Una vez finalizado el triste conflicto las obras continuaron muy lentamente ya que el País se encontraba destrozado y había que reconstruir otros Ferrocarriles más importantes.
En los años 60 un informe del Banco Mundial con vistas a la concesión un importante crédito para el Estado Español consideró negativa la conclusión una serie de proyectos ferroviarios, básicamente los incluidos en el plan Guadalhorce, a los cuales no se les vio rentabilidad económica por la mayor facilidad y economía de los emergentes transportes por carretera. Estas razones determinaron la orden de paralización inmediata de las obras y de esta forma el Proyecto quedó abandonado sobre el terreno.
En 1984 el Ministerio de Obras Publicas desestimó definitivamente la reanudación de cualquier tipo de obra en esta vía y los Alcoyanos ya nunca podrían tener su ansiada conexión por ferrocarril a su Capital.
Para más desgracia, hace unos años, se utilizaron varios tramos del nonato Ferrocarril para la construcción de la nueva autovía A7. Cortando el viejo trazado por varios tramos.
En la actualidad, dos vías verdes invitan a recorrer esta majestuosa infraestructura en la que se puede apreciar impresionantes viaductos como el de las Siete Lunas o largos túneles...
es.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%ADnea_Alcoy-Alicante
_______________________________________-
En.
Agost railway siding, a forgotten old railway junction with a sad story to tell...
Alcoi-Agost Railway: stories of waste in 20th-century Spain...
"Without laying the tracks completely finished..."
Alcoi, one of the most important industrial cities in the Province of Alicante, began demanding a train linking it with the provincial capital and its port as early as the late 19th century.
It wasn't until the dictatorship of General Primo de Rivera, under the so-called "Guadalhorce Railway Plan," that the people of Alcoy began to have hope.
In 1926, construction began on the infrastructure for the Iberian gauge railway between Alcoi and Agost. The new line would depart from the station of the Valencia via Xàtiva railway, which had existed in the city since 1893.
With a total length of slightly over 66 km, the new railway would connect in Agost with the Madrid-Alicante railway of the former M.Z.A. railway company (Madrid-Zaragoza and Alicante). This would allow the railway to reach the provincial capital without having to double the line.
Due to the difficult terrain of Alcoi, several tunnels and viaducts had to be built to allow the train to reach the city. The work was delayed until 1932 when it was finally completed with all its infrastructure, and only the laying of the tracks and the construction of the intermediate stations between Alcoi and Agost juction (Ibi, Castalla, Tibi and Agost-city) remained.
In 1936, with the outbreak of the Civil War, construction was halted. Once the sad conflict ended, work continued very slowly as the country was devastated and other major railways needed to be rebuilt.
In the 1960s, a World Bank report, considering the granting of a major loan to the Spanish State, considered the conclusion of a series of railway projects to be unprofitable, primarily those included in the Guadalhorce Plan, which were deemed unprofitable due to the greater ease and cost-effectiveness of emerging road transport. These reasons led to the immediate suspension of the works, and thus the project was abandoned.
In 1984, the Ministry of Public Works definitively rejected the resumption of any type of construction on this line, and the people of Alcoy would never again have their long-awaited rail connection to their capital.
To make matters worse, a few years ago, several sections of the stillborn railway were used for the construction of the new A7 highway, cutting across the old route in several sections.
Currently, two greenways invite you to explore this majestic infrastructure, where you can see impressive viaducts like the Seven Moons or long tunnels...
Interestingly the first time this E200MMC has ever passed my camera...
Monday 1st June saw the start of gradual resumption of Arriva Harlow routes and frequencies from the emergency coronavirus timetable.
One of the changes has seen Route 508 (Harlow - Stansted Airport via Takeley) restored with an hourly service, operating in conjunction with Route 510 (via Forest Hall) for a 30 minute overall service. This restores bus service via the hamlets of Takeley Street and Start Hill for the first time in around 10 weeks.
On the first morning of service resuming, ADL Enviro200MMC YX17NHA (4083) heads along the Dunmow Road approaching the small settlement of Start Hill working a Route 508 service to Stansted Airport 01/06/20
The original Rover 8 HP (1904-12) was a single-cylinder eight-horsepower 1327 cc car designed by Edmund Woodward Lewis
The car was replaced by an updated 8 HP, introduced in October 1919 after the suspension of domestic car production had ceased following the resumption of Peace in Europe.
This 1922 Rover 8HP YA3331 is on display at the Haynes Motor Museum.
Porthmadog Harbour railway station, the terminus of both the Ffestiniog Railway and Welsh Highland Railway, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, North Wales.
The Station is the head office and operational headquarters of the Festiniog Railway Company, marketed as Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.
The station is built at the western end of the Cob, the great embankment across the Traeth Mawr, on a peninsula from Ynys Madoc constructed in 1842 to form a slate wharf and a harbour wall. It was opened for passenger service on 6 January 1865. Welsh Highland Railway trains served the station from 1923, but these ceased running in 1936. The station was closed to passengers on 15 September 1939, although slate trains continued operating through the Second World War until 1946. The buildings continued in use as the principal offices of the Festiniog Railway Company and the home of Manager (Mr Robert Evans) including throughout the years of almost total closure from 1 August 1946 to 24 September 1954. The station reopened for passengers on 23 July 1955. Welsh Highland Railway services were restored in 2011.
The present stone buildings, replacing earlier wooden buildings dismantled and reused elsewhere on the railway, date from 1878/79 and the goods shed was added in 1880. They were linked to the former goods shed by way of a major extension in 1975. Passenger facilities include a booking and enquiry office, a large tourist and hobby shop and a large cafeteria with licensed bar. The erection of the platform awning was completed in 1988.
With the resumption of services in 1955, all traffic on the line has been controlled from an office in Harbour station, known simply as "Control". With the exception of some early morning and late night movements by works trains, this office is manned constantly when passenger-carrying services are in operation. Its remit was expanded in 1997 with the commencement of public services on the Welsh Highland Railway between Caernarfon and Dinas and its subsequent expansion south towards Porthmadog.
The station signals were rebuilt as part of the Welsh Highland Railway's arrival. The work won the Signalling Award at the 2014 National Railway Heritage Awards.
Photo Copyright 2012, dynamo.photography.
All rights reserved, no use without license
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Hong kong)
Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, is an autonomous territory south to Mainland China and east to Macao in East Asia. With around 7.2 million Hong Kongers of various nationalities[note 2] in a territory of 1,104 km2, Hong Kong is the world's fourth most densely populated country or territory.
Hong Kong used to be a British colony with the perpetual cession of Hong Kong Island from the Qing Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42). The colony expanded to the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and acquired a 99-year lease of the New Territories from 1898. Hong Kong was later occupied by Japan during the Second World War until British control resumed in 1945. The Sino-British Joint Declaration signed between the United Kingdom and China in 1984 paved way for the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997, when it became a special administrative region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China with a high degree of autonomy.[15]
Under the principle of "one country, two systems",[16][17] Hong Kong maintains a separate political and economic system from China. Except in military defence and foreign affairs, Hong Kong maintains its independent executive, legislative and judiciary powers.[18] In addition, Hong Kong develops relations directly with foreign states and international organisations in a broad range of "appropriate fields".[19] Hong Kong involves in international organizations, such as the WTO[20] and the APEC [21], actively and independently.
Hong Kong is one of the world's most significant financial centres, with the highest Financial Development Index score and consistently ranks as the world's most competitive and freest economic entity.[22][23] As the world's 8th largest trading entity,[24] its legal tender, the Hong Kong dollar, is the world's 13th most traded currency.[25] As the world's most visited city,[26][27] Hong Kong's tertiary sector dominated economy is characterised by competitive simple taxation and supported by its independent judiciary system.[28] Even with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, it suffers from severe income inequality.[29]
Nicknamed "Pearl of the Orient", Hong Kong is renowned for its deep natural harbour, which boasts the world's fifth busiest port with ready access by cargo ships, and its impressive skyline, with the most skyscrapers in the world.[30][31] It has a very high Human Development Index ranking and the world's longest life expectancy.[32][33] Over 90% of the population makes use of well-developed public transportation.[34][35] Seasonal air pollution with origins from neighbouring industrial areas of Mainland China, which adopts loose emissions standards, has resulted in a high level of atmospheric particulates in winter.[36][37][38]
Contents
1 Etymology
2 History
2.1 Prehistory
2.2 Imperial China
2.3 British Crown Colony: 1842–1941
2.4 Japanese occupation: 1941–45
2.5 Resumption of British rule and industrialisation: 1945–97
2.6 Handover and Special Administrative Region status
3 Governance
3.1 Structure of government
3.2 Electoral and political reforms
3.3 Legal system and judiciary
3.4 Foreign relations
3.5 Human rights
3.6 Regions and districts
3.7 Military
4 Geography and climate
5 Economy
5.1 Financial centre
5.2 International trading
5.3 Tourism and expatriation
5.4 Policy
5.5 Infrastructure
6 Demographics
6.1 Languages
6.2 Religion
6.3 Personal income
6.4 Education
6.5 Health
7 Culture
7.1 Sports
7.2 Architecture
7.3 Cityscape
7.4 Symbols
8 See also
9 Notes
10 References
10.1 Citations
10.2 Sources
11 Further reading
12 External links
Etymology
Hong Kong was officially recorded in the 1842 Treaty of Nanking to encompass the entirety of the island.[39]
The source of the romanised name "Hong Kong" is not known, but it is generally believed to be an early imprecise phonetic rendering of the pronunciation in spoken Cantonese 香港 (Cantonese Yale: Hēung Góng), which means "Fragrant Harbour" or "Incense Harbour".[13][14][40] Before 1842, the name referred to a small inlet—now Aberdeen Harbour (Chinese: 香港仔; Cantonese Yale: Hēunggóng jái), literally means "Little Hong Kong"—between Aberdeen Island and the southern coast of Hong Kong Island. Aberdeen was an initial point of contact between British sailors and local fishermen.[41]
Another theory is that the name would have been taken from Hong Kong's early inhabitants, the Tankas (水上人); it is equally probable that romanisation was done with a faithful execution of their speeches, i.e. hōng, not hēung in Cantonese.[42] Detailed and accurate romanisation systems for Cantonese were available and in use at the time.[43]
Fragrance may refer to the sweet taste of the harbour's fresh water estuarine influx of the Pearl River or to the incense from factories lining the coast of northern Kowloon. The incense was stored near Aberdeen Harbour for export before Hong Kong developed Victoria Harbour.[40]
The name had often been written as the single word Hongkong until the government adopted the current form in 1926.[44] Nevertheless, a number of century-old institutions still retain the single-word form, such as the Hongkong Post, Hongkong Electric and the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
As of 1997, its official name is the "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China". This is the official title as mentioned in the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Hong Kong Government's website;[45] however, "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" and "Hong Kong" are widely accepted.
Hong Kong has carried many nicknames. The most famous among those is the "Pearl of the Orient", which reflected the impressive nightscape of the city's light decorations on the skyscrapers along both sides of the Victoria Harbour. The territory is also known as "Asia's World City".
History
Main articles: History of Hong Kong and History of China
Prehistory
Main article: Prehistoric Hong Kong
Archaeological studies support human presence in the Chek Lap Kok area (now Hong Kong International Airport) from 35,000 to 39,000 years ago and on Sai Kung Peninsula from 6,000 years ago.[46][47][48]
Wong Tei Tung and Three Fathoms Cove are the earliest sites of human habitation in Hong Kong during the Paleolithic Period. It is believed that the Three Fathom Cove was a river-valley settlement and Wong Tei Tung was a lithic manufacturing site. Excavated Neolithic artefacts suggested cultural differences from the Longshan culture of northern China and settlement by the Che people, prior to the migration of the Baiyue to Hong Kong.[49][50] Eight petroglyphs, which dated to the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC – 1066 BC) in China, were discovered on the surrounding islands.[51]
Imperial China
Main article: History of Hong Kong under Imperial China
In 214 BC, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a centralised China, conquered the Baiyue tribes in Jiaozhi (modern-day Liangguang region and Vietnam) and incorporated the area of Hong Kong into his imperial China for the first time. Hong Kong proper was assigned to the Nanhai commandery (modern-day Nanhai District), near the commandery's capital city Panyu.[52][53][54]
After a brief period of centralisation and collapse of the Qin dynasty, the area of Hong Kong was consolidated under the Kingdom of Nanyue, founded by general Zhao Tuo in 204 BC.[55] When Nanyue lost the Han-Nanyue War in 111 BC, Hong Kong came under the Jiaozhi commandery of the Han dynasty. Archaeological evidence indicates an increase of population and flourish of salt production. The Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb on the Kowloon Peninsula is believed to have been built as a burial site during the Han dynasty.[56]
From the Han dynasty to the early Tang dynasty, Hong Kong was a part of Bao'an County. In the Tang dynasty, modern-day Guangzhou (Canton) flourished as an international trading centre. In 736, the Emperor Xuanzong of Tang established a military stronghold in Tuen Mun to strengthen defence of the coastal area.[57] The nearby Lantau Island was a salt production centre and salt smuggler riots occasionally broke out against the government. In c. 1075, The first village school, Li Ying College, was established around 1075 AD in modern-day New Territories by the Northern Song dynasty.[58] During their war against the Mongols, the imperial court of Southern Song was briefly stationed at modern-day Kowloon City (the Sung Wong Toi site) before their ultimate defeat by the Mongols at the Battle of Yamen in 1279.[59] The Mongols then established their dynastic court and governed Hong Kong for 97 years.
From the mid-Tang dynasty to the early Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Hong Kong was a part of Dongguan County. During the Ming dynasty, the area was transferred to Xin'an County. The indigenous inhabitants at that time consisted of several ethnicities such as Punti, Hakka, Tanka and Hoklo.
European discovery
The earliest European visitor on record was Jorge Álvares, a Portuguese explorer, who arrived in 1513.[60][61] Having established a trading post in a site they called "Tamão" in Hong Kong waters, Portuguese merchants commenced with regular trading in southern China. Subsequent military clashes between China and Portugal, however, led to the expulsion of all Portuguese merchants from southern China.
Since the 14th century, the Ming court had enforced the maritime prohibition laws that strictly forbade all private maritime activities in order to prevent contact with foreigners by sea.[62] When the Manchu Qing dynasty took over China, Hong Kong was directly affected by the Great Clearance decree of the Kangxi Emperor, who ordered the evacuation of coastal areas of Guangdong from 1661 to 1669. Over 16,000 inhabitants of Xin'an County including those in Hong Kong were forced to migrate inland; only 1,648 of those who had evacuated subsequently returned.[63][64]
British Crown Colony: 1842–1941
A painter at work. John Thomson. Hong Kong, 1871. The Wellcome Collection, London
Main articles: British Hong Kong and History of Hong Kong (1800s–1930s)
In 1839, threats by the imperial court of Qing to sanction opium imports caused diplomatic friction with the British Empire. Tensions escalated into the First Opium War. The Qing admitted defeat when British forces captured Hong Kong Island on 20 January 1841. The island was initially ceded under the Convention of Chuenpi as part of a ceasefire agreement between Captain Charles Elliot and Governor Qishan. A dispute between high-ranking officials of both countries, however, led to the failure of the treaty's ratification. On 29 August 1842, Hong Kong Island was formally ceded in perpetuity to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Treaty of Nanking.[65] The British officially established a Crown colony and founded the City of Victoria in the following year.[66]
The population of Hong Kong Island was 7,450 when the Union Flag raised over Possession Point on 26 January 1841. It mostly consisted of Tanka fishermen and Hakka charcoal burners, whose settlements scattered along several coastal hamlets. In the 1850s, a large number of Chinese immigrants crossed the then-free border to escape from the Taiping Rebellion. Other natural disasters, such as flooding, typhoons and famine in mainland China would play a role in establishing Hong Kong as a place for safe shelter.[67][68]
Further conflicts over the opium trade between Britain and Qing quickly escalated into the Second Opium War. Following the Anglo-French victory, the Crown Colony was expanded to include Kowloon Peninsula (south of Boundary Street) and Stonecutter's Island, both of which were ceded to the British in perpetuity under the Convention of Beijing in 1860.
In 1898, Britain obtained a 99-year lease from Qing under the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory, in which Hong Kong obtained a 99-year lease of Lantau Island, the area north of Boundary Street in Kowloon up to Shenzhen River and over 200 other outlying islands.[69][70][71]
Hong Kong soon became a major entrepôt thanks to its free port status, attracting new immigrants to settle from both China and Europe. The society, however, remained racially segregated and polarised under early British colonial policies. Despite the rise of a British-educated Chinese upper-class by the late-19th century, race laws such as the Peak Reservation Ordinance prevented ethnic Chinese in Hong Kong from acquiring houses in reserved areas such as Victoria Peak. At this time, the majority of the Chinese population in Hong Kong had no political representation in the British colonial government. The British governors did rely, however, on a small number of Chinese elites, including Sir Kai Ho and Robert Hotung, who served as ambassadors and mediators between the government and local population.
File:1937 Hong Kong VP8.webmPlay media
Hong Kong filmed in 1937
In 1904, the United Kingdom established the world's first border and immigration control; all residents of Hong Kong were given citizenship as Citizens of United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC).
Hong Kong continued to experience modest growth during the first half of the 20th century. The University of Hong Kong was established in 1911 as the territory's first higher education institute. While there had been an exodus of 60,000 residents for fear of a German attack on the British colony during the First World War, Hong Kong remained unscathed. Its population increased from 530,000 in 1916 to 725,000 in 1925 and reached 1.6 million by 1941.[72]
In 1925, Cecil Clementi became the 17th Governor of Hong Kong. Fluent in Cantonese and without a need for translator, Clementi introduced the first ethnic Chinese, Shouson Chow, into the Executive Council as an unofficial member. Under Clementi's tenure, Kai Tak Airport entered operation as RAF Kai Tak and several aviation clubs. In 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out when the Japanese Empire expanded its territories from northeastern China into the mainland proper. To safeguard Hong Kong as a freeport, Governor Geoffry Northcote declared the Crown Colony as a neutral zone.
Japanese occupation: 1941–45
Main article: Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
The Cenotaph in Hong Kong commemorates those who died in service in the First World War and the Second World War.[73]
As part of its military campaign in Southeast Asia during Second World War, the Japanese army moved south from Guangzhou of mainland China and attacked Hong Kong in on 8 December 1941.[74] Crossing the border at Shenzhen River on 8 December, the Battle of Hong Kong lasted for 18 days when British and Canadian forces held onto Hong Kong Island. Unable to defend against intensifying Japanese air and land bombardments, they eventually surrendered control of Hong Kong on 25 December 1941. The Governor of Hong Kong was captured and taken as a prisoner of war. This day is regarded by the locals as "Black Christmas".[75]
During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, the Japanese army committed atrocities against civilians and POWs, such as the St. Stephen's College massacre. Local residents also suffered widespread food shortages, limited rationing and hyper-inflation arising from the forced exchange of currency from Hong Kong dollars to Japanese military banknotes. The initial ratio of 2:1 was gradually devalued to 4:1 and ownership of Hong Kong dollars was declared illegal and punishable by harsh torture. Due to starvation and forced deportation for slave labour to mainland China, the population of Hong Kong had dwindled from 1.6 million in 1941 to 600,000 in 1945, when the United Kingdom resumed control of the colony on 2 September 1945.[76]
Resumption of British rule and industrialisation: 1945–97
Main articles: British Hong Kong, 1950s in Hong Kong, 1960s in Hong Kong, 1970s in Hong Kong, 1980s in Hong Kong, and 1990s in Hong Kong
Flag of British Hong Kong from 1959 to 1997
Hong Kong's population recovered quickly after the war, as a wave of skilled migrants from the Republic of China moved in to seek refuge from the Chinese Civil War. When the Communist Party eventually took full control of mainland China in 1949, even more skilled migrants fled across the open border for fear of persecution.[69] Many newcomers, especially those who had been based in the major port cities of Shanghai and Guangzhou, established corporations and small- to medium-sized businesses and shifted their base operations to British Hong Kong.[69] The establishment of a socialist state in China (People's Republic of China) on 1 October 1949 caused the British colonial government to reconsider Hong Kong's open border to mainland China. In 1951, a boundary zone was demarked as a buffer zone against potential military attacks from communist China. Border posts along the north of Hong Kong began operation in 1953 to regulate the movement of people and goods into and out of the territory.
Stamp with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953
In the 1950s, Hong Kong became the first of the Four Asian Tiger economies under rapid industrialisation driven by textile exports, manufacturing industries and re-exports of goods to China. As the population grew, with labour costs remaining low, living standards began to rise steadily.[77] The construction of the Shek Kip Mei Estate in 1953 marked the beginning of the public housing estate programme to provide shelter for the less privileged and to cope with the influx of immigrants.
Under Sir Murray MacLehose, 25th Governor of Hong Kong (1971–82), a series of reforms improved the public services, environment, housing, welfare, education and infrastructure of Hong Kong. MacLehose was British Hong Kong's longest-serving governor and, by the end of his tenure, had become one of the most popular and well-known figures in the Crown Colony. MacLehose laid the foundation for Hong Kong to establish itself as a key global city in the 1980s and early 1990s.
A sky view of Hong Kong Island
An aerial view of the northern shore of Hong Kong Island in 1986
To resolve traffic congestion and to provide a more reliable means of crossing the Victoria Harbour, a rapid transit railway system (metro), the MTR, was planned from the 1970s onwards. The Island Line (Hong Kong Island), Kwun Tong Line (Kowloon Peninsula and East Kowloon) and Tsuen Wan Line (Kowloon and urban New Territories) opened in the early 1980s.[78]
In 1983, the Hong Kong dollar left its 16:1 peg with the Pound sterling and switched to the current US-HK Dollar peg. Hong Kong's competitiveness in manufacturing gradually declined due to rising labour and property costs, as well as new development in southern China under the Open Door Policy introduced in 1978 which opened up China to foreign business. Nevertheless, towards the early 1990s, Hong Kong had established itself as a global financial centre along with London and New York City, a regional hub for logistics and freight, one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia and the world's exemplar of Laissez-faire market policy.[79]
The Hong Kong question
In 1971, the Republic of China (Taiwan)'s permanent seat on the United Nations was transferred to the People's Republic of China (PRC), Hong Kong's status as a recognised colony became terminated in 1972 under the request of PRC. Facing the uncertain future of Hong Kong and expiry of land lease of New Territories beyond 1997, Governor MacLehose raised the question in the late 1970s.
The British Nationality Act 1981 reclassified Hong Kong into a British Dependent Territory amid the reorganisation of global territories of the British Empire. All residents of Hong Kong became British Dependent Territory Citizens (BDTC). Diplomatic negotiations began with China and eventually concluded with the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. Both countries agreed to transfer Hong Kong's sovereignty to China on 1 July 1997, when Hong Kong would remain autonomous as a special administrative region and be able to retain its free-market economy, British common law through the Hong Kong Basic Law, independent representation in international organisations (e.g. WTO and WHO), treaty arrangements and policy-making except foreign diplomacy and military defence.
It stipulated that Hong Kong would retain its laws and be guaranteed a high degree of autonomy for at least 50 years after the transfer. The Hong Kong Basic Law, based on English law, would serve as the constitutional document after the transfer. It was ratified in 1990.[69] The expiry of the 1898 lease on the New Territories in 1997 created problems for business contracts, property leases and confidence among foreign investors.
Handover and Special Administrative Region status
Main articles: Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong and 2000s in Hong Kong
Transfer of sovereignty
Golden Bauhinia Square
On 1 July 1997, the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China took place, officially marking the end of Hong Kong's 156 years under British colonial governance. As the largest remaining colony of the United Kingdom, the loss of Hong Kong effectively represented the end of the British Empire. This transfer of sovereignty made Hong Kong the first special administrative region of China. Tung Chee-Hwa, a pro-Beijing business tycoon, was elected Hong Kong's first Chief Executive by a selected electorate of 800 in a televised programme.
Structure of government
Hong Kong's current structure of governance inherits from the British model of colonial administration set up in the 1850s. The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration states that "Hong Kong should enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all areas except defence and foreign affairs" with reference to the underlying principle of one country, two systems.[note 3] This Declaration stipulates that Hong Kong maintains her capitalist economic system and guarantees the rights and freedoms of her people for at least 50 years after the 1997 handover. [note 4] Such guarantees are enshrined in the Hong Kong's Basic Law, the territory's constitutional document, which outlines the system of governance after 1997, albeit subject to interpretation by China's Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC).[95][96]
Hong Kong's most senior leader, Chief Executive, is elected by a committee of 1,200 selected members (600 in 1997) and nominally appointed by the Government of China. The primary pillars of government are the Executive Council, Legislative Council, civil service and Judiciary.
Policy-making is initially discussed in the Executive Council, presided by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, before passing to the Legislative Council for bill adoption. The Executive Council consists of 30 official/unofficial members appointed by the Chief Executive and one member among them acts as the convenor.[97][98]
The Legislative Council, set up in 1843, debates policies and motions before voting to adopt or rejecting bills. It has 70 members (originally 60) and 40 (originally 30) among them are directly elected by universal suffrage; the other 30 members are "functional constituencies" (indirectly) elected by a smaller electorate of corporate bodies or representatives of stipulated economic sectors as defined by the government. The Legislative Council is chaired by a president who acts as the speaker.[99][100]
In 1997, seating of the Legislative Council (also public services and election franchises) of Hong Kong modelled on the British system: Urban Council (Hong Kong and Kowloon) and District Council (New Territories and Outlying Islands). In 1999, this system has been reformed into 18 directly elected District Offices across 5 Legislative Council constituencies: Hong Kong Island (East/West), Kowloon and New Territories (East/West); the remaining outlying islands are divided across the aforementioned regions.
Hong Kong's Civil Service, created by the British colonial government, is a politically neutral body that implements government policies and provides public services. Senior civil servants are appointed based on meritocracy. The territory's police, firefighting and customs forces, as well as clerical officers across various government departments, make up the civil service.[101][102]
Porthmadog Harbour railway station, the terminus of both the Ffestiniog Railway and Welsh Highland Railway, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, North Wales.
The Station is the head office and operational headquarters of the Festiniog Railway Company, marketed as Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.
The station is built at the western end of the Cob, the great embankment across the Traeth Mawr, on a peninsula from Ynys Madoc constructed in 1842 to form a slate wharf and a harbour wall. It was opened for passenger service on 6 January 1865. Welsh Highland Railway trains served the station from 1923, but these ceased running in 1936.
The station was closed to passengers on 15 September 1939, although slate trains continued operating through the Second World War until 1946. The buildings continued in use as the principal offices of the Festiniog Railway Company and the home of Manager (Mr Robert Evans) including throughout the years of almost total closure from 1 August 1946 to 24 September 1954. The station reopened for passengers on 23 July 1955. Welsh Highland Railway services were restored in 2011.
The present stone buildings, replacing earlier wooden buildings dismantled and reused elsewhere on the railway, date from 1878/79 and the goods shed was added in 1880. They were linked to the former goods shed by way of a major extension in 1975. Passenger facilities include a booking and enquiry office, a large tourist and hobby shop and a large cafeteria with licensed bar. The erection of the platform awning was completed in 1988.
With the resumption of services in 1955, all traffic on the line has been controlled from an office in Harbour station, known simply as "Control". Except for some early morning and late-night movements by works trains, this office is manned constantly when passenger-carrying services are in operation. Its remit was expanded in 1997 with the commencement of public services on the Welsh Highland Railway between Caernarfon and Dinas and its subsequent expansion south towards Porthmadog.
Information source
It was either this or a probable block by traffic on the main road...
Recently a reshuffle has taken place between the Arriva depots of Harlow, Guildford and Maidstone, facilitated by the need for the 2006 vintage of Citaros operating Harlow - Heathrow route 724 to be replaced, due to non-compliance for new emission regulations within the Greater London area and on the Heathrow Airport site.
The Harlow end of this shuffle saw all of the Citaros (389x numbers and 3909) removed to Guildford, replaced of current by E200MMCs 4093/95/96/97/98/99 from Maidstone and Sapphire examples 4101/02 from Gillingham.
With the resumption of school education to all pupils over the current course of time, the Arriva corridor between Harlow, Bishops Stortford and Stansted Airport operates a boosted timetable at these 'peak' times to ensure adequate capacity for both school and regular passengers.
In undertake of one of this extra trips, ADL Enviro200MMC YX17NYG (4093) passes along Forest Hall Road into Stansted Mountfitchet working a Route 510 service towards Stansted Airport 16/03/21
LNER Class A4 Pacific 4-6-2 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley in BR Blue and guest locomotive Great Western Railway Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' create a magical combination, awaiting the resumption of their onward journeys to Grosmont and Pickering respectively, on 28th September 2014, the third and final day of the NYMR Autumn Gala.
#7: As of 12/28/22, of my 3300+ pics, this is listed as #7 in most # of views.
#145: As of 7/20/22, of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #145 in most # of faves.
#445: As of 5/9/22, under Flickr's popularity rankings of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #445 in "interestingness."
#630: As of 5/9/22, of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #630 in most # of comments.
For a fun interlude, this is an alternative/filtered image based off one of my popular pics posted here on flickr in the last year+. This particular image was generated with the help of the FaceApp application, where I took a photo of the original "2020-02-12-pic31" pic I've posted here, then just applied a simple filter. This was done in part to help with the graininess or the poor lighting in the original - and to have some fun with light filtering.
The day this pic was originally taken, Feb 12, 2020, is still the last opportunity I've had for dressing up and going out en femme. It was about a month before everything shut down because of coronavirus, and (most impactful for my femme activity) about a month before my wife's company's office closed permanently, leaving her to work from home every day since then.
I'm still hopeful for some occasional resumption of outside femme activity someday. Anyhow, when the opportunity does arise, I hope I can capture some of the magic I had this day from 2020. What do you think? :-)
La "Ford Vedette" est une limousine à six glaces latérales présentée par la filiale de Ford en France (Ford SAF) en octobre 1948. Elle est fabriquée dans l'usine de Poissy en région parisienne.
Elle était la reprise du modèle Matford V8-F92A 13 cv produite avant guerre à Strasbourg.
Elle était placé dans le haut de gamme des véhicules produits en France après-guerre.
FORD SAF est racheté en 1954 par SIMCA possédé par FIAT.
Elle s'appellera désormais "Simca Vedette" série "Versailles". Wikipedia
The "Ford Vedette" is a limousine with six side windows presented by the subsidiary of Ford in France (Ford SAF) in October 1948. It is manufactured in the Poissy factory in the Paris region.
It was the resumption of the Matford V8-F92A 13 hp model produced before the war in Strasbourg.
It was placed in the top of the range of vehicles produced in France after the war.
FORD SAF was bought in 1954 by SIMCA owned by FIAT.
It will now be called "Simca Vedette" "Versailles" series. Wikipedia
A divina paz,
Eu vou desejar pro mundo.
O ano inteiro,
Eu quero amor em tudo.
Em mim, em você,
Seja só um conteúdo.
O ano inteiro.
Eu quero amor em tudo.
De alegria,
Hoje eu vou fazer barulho.
O ano inteiro.
Eu quero amor em tudo.
Tristezas, ódio,
Hoje eu vou deixar no mudo.
O ano inteiro.
Eu quero amor em tudo.
Mantenha a sua casa cheia,
Com o coração sem senha ♪
Pending the resumption of CN operations of the Hagerville sub from SOR, two zebra-stripe-painted GP40-2W's have spent the past week in the yard at Brantford. CN 9543 and 9675 were both built in 1975, though for much of its' career, CN 9675 hauled commuters to and from Toronto as GO #708.
There was a large shuffle of vehicles within Arriva's Kent Thameside and Kent & Surrey operation during May 2020 following the resumption of services after the COVID-19 lockdown.
With social distancing being implemented and severely restricting the capacity of buses as well as the requirement that all vehicles used have to be fitted with assault screens some larger vehicles have been swapped for smaller vehicles. From what I can ascertain here is what has happened: Northfleet received four E400s from Maidstone sending four StreetLites to Southend, Southend sent four E400 MMCs to Gillingham which in turn also received some E400s from Maidstone while the B7s were out of service being fitted with assault screens. Their stay was short lived as on Sunday 28th June 2020 the four E400s at Northfleet were moved to Gillingham, the four E400 MMCs moved from Gillingham to Southend and the four Streetlites back to Northfleet from Southend.
Pictured here on-loan from Southend to Gillingham is Enviro 400 MMC 6512 SN66 WJJ seen joining Ratcliffe Highway near Sharnal Street having just visited High Halstow whilst working route 191. Friday 19th June 2020.
ADL E40D - ADL Enviro 400 MMC
"http://edwarddullard.phanfare.com/
COUNTY CARLOW, IRELAND.
Originally a Georgian home of noted Anglo Irish family, which was rebuilt in Gothic Revival style. Although burnt in 1933 the remaining towers and turrets, mostly ivy clad, give this enchanting structure a fairy tale air.
Built in 1830 by William Duckett in an estate covering more than 5,000 acres. During the Troubles, Duckett was occupied by soldiers from the Irish Republican Army and many Nationalist leaders sought refuge here. The last male heir died in 1908, but his widow lived in the house until 1912. At its entrance is the most stupendous castellated gateway in southern Ireland. located in Co. Carlow.
Ducketts Grove Rainstown, Carlow was designed in a Castellated Gothic revival style by Thomas A. Cobden for John Davidson Duckett circa 1825. The building incorporates numerous towers and turrets of varying shapes – round, square and octagonal. One tall octagonal turret rises from the structure. Duckett’s Grove is elaborately ornamented with oriels and niches containing statues. Several statues on pedestals surrounded the building and lined the approaches. The house itself is situated in the townland of Rainstown, between Carlow and Tullow but the estate comprised several large townlands and parts of others. Following the departure of the Duckett's the estate was managed by an agent until 1921 then by local farmers and later by the Land Commission. The division of the lands was completed by 1930. Duckett’s Grove was destroyed by fire in April 1933 but the cause of the fire has not been determined.
The entrance gate to Duckett’s Grove was designed by John MacDuff Derick (1810-1859). It was built between 1853-1855 and is one of the most elaborate castellated gateways in Ireland. It comprises many battlemented towers and has two great archways leading to two distinct drives. The principal archway features a portcullis. Over this latter is found a very large armorial bearing. It was said to have been originally coloured. The gateway is a landmark in its own right even to this day. This close-up view shows on of the castellated towers in Duckett's Grove with tiered Gothic style windows. Three windows occur on the ground level, two in the central section and three narrower features on the third storey. Moulding and other detail can be seen over those windows on the ground floor. Duckett's Grove (now in ruins) is situated in Rainstown, near Carlow Town.
The Duckett family lived there until around 1915. The house was gutted by fire in 1933 and the Bishop Foley Schools were partly built with ashlar from the ruins. But the shell of the huge range of the building and the spiral staircase tower survived. Could it be the work of a mentally disturbed architect, or is it the result of a mentally disturbed patron? The New York Evening Post obituary, tells us that MacDuff Derick arrived in America in the Summer of 1858, so there is a gap between his last recorded building and his arrival. This may be the withdrawal from architect referred to, but would not allow time for its resumption. His death, 'recorded in the journals of the 20th instant' [September] 1859 must have occurred shortly before that date.
For a brief period in 1990-91, the Ongar line regained its all-day service, but patronage was not sufficient to justify its retention. A gala weekend was held on the line on 27 May 1990 to mark this resumption and here we see 1960 stock train 3906/07, by then repainted into red, leaving Epping for Ongar.
Porthmadog Harbour railway station, the terminus of both the Ffestiniog Railway and Welsh Highland Railway, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, North Wales.
The Station is the head office and operational headquarters of the Festiniog Railway Company, marketed as Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.
The station is built at the western end of the Cob, the great embankment across the Traeth Mawr, on a peninsula from Ynys Madoc constructed in 1842 to form a slate wharf and a harbour wall. It was opened for passenger service on 6 January 1865. Welsh Highland Railway trains served the station from 1923, but these ceased running in 1936.
The station was closed to passengers on 15 September 1939, although slate trains continued operating through the Second World War until 1946. The buildings continued in use as the principal offices of the Festiniog Railway Company and the home of Manager (Mr Robert Evans) including throughout the years of almost total closure from 1 August 1946 to 24 September 1954. The station reopened for passengers on 23 July 1955. Welsh Highland Railway services were restored in 2011.
The present stone buildings, replacing earlier wooden buildings dismantled and reused elsewhere on the railway, date from 1878/79 and the goods shed was added in 1880. They were linked to the former goods shed by way of a major extension in 1975. Passenger facilities include a booking and enquiry office, a large tourist and hobby shop and a large cafeteria with licensed bar. The erection of the platform awning was completed in 1988.
With the resumption of services in 1955, all traffic on the line has been controlled from an office in Harbour station, known simply as "Control". Except for some early morning and late-night movements by works trains, this office is manned constantly when passenger-carrying services are in operation. Its remit was expanded in 1997 with the commencement of public services on the Welsh Highland Railway between Caernarfon and Dinas and its subsequent expansion south towards Porthmadog.
Information source
Rail Operations Group 'Orion' Class 319 No. 319373 approached Lichfield Trent Valley on 7th January 2022 forming 3Q41 0534 Shieldmuir Mail Terminal - Willesden PRDC. Although on time at Lichfield, the train had earlier suffered a 30 minute delay at Skew Bridge, on the outskirts of Preston, due to reported loss of power. When introduced in December 2021, the service was supposed to operate with converted Class 319/768 EMUs, but reported issues with their batteries resulted in the trains being locomotive- hauled. Upon resumption of services after the new years break, loco-haulage ceased and No 319373 operated the service alone. However, no doubt due to the issue at Skew Bridge, the return Down-working on 7th january was again locomotive-hauled, as was the Up-train on 8th January. Copyright Photograph John Whitehouse - all rights reserved
Porthmadog Harbour railway station, the terminus of both the Ffestiniog Railway and Welsh Highland Railway, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, North Wales.
The Station is the head office and operational headquarters of the Festiniog Railway Company, marketed as Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.
The station is built at the western end of the Cob, the great embankment across the Traeth Mawr, on a peninsula from Ynys Madoc constructed in 1842 to form a slate wharf and a harbour wall. It was opened for passenger service on 6 January 1865. Welsh Highland Railway trains served the station from 1923, but these ceased running in 1936.
The station was closed to passengers on 15 September 1939, although slate trains continued operating through the Second World War until 1946. The buildings continued in use as the principal offices of the Festiniog Railway Company and the home of Manager (Mr Robert Evans) including throughout the years of almost total closure from 1 August 1946 to 24 September 1954. The station reopened for passengers on 23 July 1955. Welsh Highland Railway services were restored in 2011.
The present stone buildings, replacing earlier wooden buildings dismantled and reused elsewhere on the railway, date from 1878/79 and the goods shed was added in 1880. They were linked to the former goods shed by way of a major extension in 1975. Passenger facilities include a booking and enquiry office, a large tourist and hobby shop and a large cafeteria with licensed bar. The erection of the platform awning was completed in 1988.
With the resumption of services in 1955, all traffic on the line has been controlled from an office in Harbour station, known simply as "Control". Except for some early morning and late-night movements by works trains, this office is manned constantly when passenger-carrying services are in operation. Its remit was expanded in 1997 with the commencement of public services on the Welsh Highland Railway between Caernarfon and Dinas and its subsequent expansion south towards Porthmadog.
Information source
The UTV Bolon T'sakab, missing, presumed lost with all hands in August 2721 following an apparently undercalculated Krasnikov tube manoeuvre in Sector G-12. It remains unknown what prompted the rushed and therefore risky translation in into fluxspace. The region has since remained uneventful for over 77,000 megaseconds, with no unscheduled causality violations noted to date. G-12 is now deemed safe for the resumption of conventional drive traverses for both military and non-military vehicles. Fluxspace insertion in the sector is closed until further notice.
After getting dressed, Ms. Essay allowed some time to take a few photos of her selected dress prior to departing for the September 2020 resumption of evening meetings by the St. Louis Gender Foundation (StLGF).
Resumption of the creation of Pistash in a smaller version
www.flickr.com/photos/110633275@N05/51369313576/in/faves-...
#106: As of 10/26/22, of my 3300+ pics, this is listed as #106 in most # of views.
#264: As of 7/27/22, of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #264 in most # of faves.
#594: As of 4/18/22, under Flickr's popularity rankings of my 3100+ pics, this is listed as #594 in "interestingness."
#962: As of 4/18/22, of my 3100+ pics, this is listed as #962 in most # of comments.
For a fun interlude, this is an alternative/filtered image based off one of my popular pics posted here on flickr in the last year+. This particular image was generated with the help of the FaceApp application, where I took a photo of the original "2020-02-12-pic29" pic I've posted here, then just applied a simple filter. This was done in part to help with the graininess or the poor lighting in the original - and to have some fun with light filtering.
The day this pic was originally taken, Feb 12, 2020, is still the last opportunity I've had for dressing up and going out en femme. It was about a month before everything shut down because of coronavirus, and (most impactful for my femme activity) about a month before my wife's company's office closed permanently, leaving her to work from home every day since then.
I'm still hopeful for some (limited) resumption of femme activity. Anyhow, when the opportunity does arise, I hope I can capture some of the magic I had this day from just over 2 years ago. What do you think? :-)
On Saturday 18 May, the 14th national rally since October 2023 was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other groups, and possibly as many as 250,000 protesters marched across central London from Mortimer Street W1 (near the BBC headquarters at Broadcasting House) to Whitehall, just a few metres away from prime minister Rishi Sunak's office and residence at 10 Downing Street.
It is difficult to estimate the total number of demonstrators but I stopped on Regent Street to photograph individuals and groups, and it took at least an hour for the majority of the marchers to pass.
Many of those participating did so in part to commemorate Nakba Day, the 76th anniversary of which fell three days earlier on 15 May. Nakba Day commemorates the brutal ethnic cleansing and expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and villages in the months after 15 May 1948 by the Israeli army and Zionist militia. Although historians point out that the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their land long predated 15 May 1948, and has continued ever since.
Many of the protesters carried the iconic "Keys of Return," symbolising the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their original homes, which was recognised by The United Nations UN General Assembly Resolution 194 which was passed on December 11, 1948.
Protesters were also demanding an immediate ceasefire, an immediate resumption and expansion of emergency aid and an end to the siege of Gaza and the illegal Israeli Occupation.
The march occurred just two days before the International Criminal Court's (ICC's) lead prosecutor, Karim Khan, announced that arrest warrants for war crimes had been requested for Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. It was Gallant who in October 2023 infamously justified his declaration of a "complete siege " on Gaza by claiming Israel was "fighting against human animals."
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Elite’s popular confectionery products are coming back.
As promised, the first products to be manufactured are dedicated to the celiac community
Following the resumption of operations at the Nof Hagalil plant, the confectionery products will gradually be back on the shelves in the next few weeks: First, “Para” chocolate, “Tortit” and “Afifit” gluten-free wafers. The popular Pesek Zman, Taami and Twist chocolate bars will soon gradually follow
Special, limited-edition pack of gluten-free bars to be offered to the celiac community on exclusive dedicated platforms
Strauss Israel CEO, Eyal Dror: “We are excited to be bringing back our much-loved chocolate bars, which our consumers have been waiting for. In the next few days and weeks, some of our chocolate bars and tablets will gradually be back on the shelves, with several new indulgence products soon to follow.”
* * *
The plant has resumed manufacturing operations following major investments to ensure product quality and safety on the highest of standards
Today, November 22, 2022: Strauss Group has announced that Elite confectionery products are returning to the shelves. The company is now beginning to market its chocolate bars and tablets – “Para” Chocolate with Popping Candy, “Para” Chocolate with Rice Crisps, Tortit, “Para” Parve Chocolate Flavored Spread 850g and gluten-free Afifit wafers. In the next few weeks, “Para” Milk Chocolate, Pesek Zman, Taami and Twist will be back too.
Strauss, which has spent years working on enlarging the variety of solutions tailored to different communities, has chosen to manufacture a one-off edition of gluten-free chocolate bars that will be sold in a special pack containing gluten-free Pesek Zman, gluten-free Kif Kef and gluten-free Mekupelet.
The packs will be available beginning next week, and for the first time, so that the products are also available to gluten intolerant consumers, they will be sold on online platforms and in dedicated stores countrywide.
Elite’s production facilities in Nof Hagalil resumed manufacturing operations following significant investments that were made to ensure product quality and safety that meet the highest of standards.
Strauss Israel CEO, Eyal Dror: “We are happy and excited to be returning to the shelves. In the past few months, we redefined our work procedures and took steps to ensure especially high standards of food quality and safety based on having learned from the production plants of several world leading chocolate manufacturers and training conducted by experts. The process of resuming operations on our chocolate production lines included thorough cleaning, upgrading part of the infrastructure, and renewal of the two plants in Nof Hagalil.
“We are excited to be coming back to the shelves with our popular chocolate tablets and bars, but it’s important to point out that the products will be returning over the next few weeks gradually, according to the pace of production and inventory build-up.”
The company emphasizes that in the light of adjustments and changes introduced in the renewed chocolate factory, attention should be paid to the allergens marked on the packaging. In parallel, the company also emphasized that it is working to come up with solutions that deliver a response to the needs of people who suffer from food allergies in the future.
Consumers are advised to pay special attention to the changes in the allergen labeling of the Mekupelet chocolate bar and some “Para” chocolate tablets, which until now contained only milk allergens.
#225: As of 5/4/21, of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #225 in most # of faves.
#521: As of 2/28/22, under Flickr's popularity rankings of my 3100+ pics, this is listed as #521 in "interestingness."
#794: As of 3/3/22, of my 3100+ pics, this is listed as #794 in most # of comments.
For a fun interlude, this is an alternative/filtered image based off one of my popular pics posted here on flickr in the last year+. This particular image was generated with the help of the FaceApp application, where I took a photo of the original "2020-02-12-pic04" pic I've posted here, then just applied a simple filter. This was done in part to help with the graininess or the poor lighting in the original - and to have some fun with light filtering.
The day this pic was originally taken, Feb 12, 2020, is still the last opportunity I've had for dressing up and going out en femme. It was about a month before everything shut down because of coronavirus, and (most impactful for my femme activity) about a month before my wife's company's office closed permanently, leaving her to work from home every day since then.
I'm still hopeful for some (limited) resumption of femme activity, and look forward to a short out-of-town trip my wife is planning for a colleague's wedding. I may be able to fit in some dressing up while my son is in school one of the days.
Anyhow, when the opportunity does arise, I hope I can capture some of the magic I had this day from just over 2 years ago. What do you think? :-)
The Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2 was introduced at the end of 1985 as an update to the Audi Sport Quattro. The car featured an inline 5-cylinder engine that displaced 2,110 cc (128.8 cu in) and produced an officially quoted figure of 350 kW (480 PS; 470 bhp).However, the turbocharger utilised a recirculating air system, with the aim of keeping the turbo spinning at high rpm, when the driver closed the throttle, either to back off during cornering, or on gearshifts. This allowed the engine to resume full power immediately after the resumption of full throttle, reducing turbo lag. The actual power figure was in excess of 500 bhp (373 kW; 507 PS) at 8000 rpm.
In addition to the improved power output, an aggressive aerodynamic kit was added that featured very distinctive wings and spoilers to the front and rear of the car to increase downforce. The weight was reduced to 1,090 kg (2,403 lb), and the S1 could accelerate from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.1 seconds. Some of the cars were supplied with a "power-shift gearbox", a forerunner of the DSG technology.
The S1 E2 was successful in the rally circuit, with Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer wining the 1985 San Remo Rally. A modified version of the E2, was also driven by Michèle Mouton. The S1 evolution would become the final Group B car produced by Audi, with the works team withdrawing from the Championship following the 1986 rally in Portugal. The final factory machines of 1986 were rated at 441 kW (600 PS; 591 bhp). In 1987, the car won the Pikes Peak driven by Walter Röhrl.
Iceland 2016
Vík í Mýrdal
Vík í Mýrdal è una località islandese lungo la Hringvegur nella regione di Suðurland. Qui si trova una stazione di servizio ed un piccolo ristorante, abbastanza popolati data la distanza dagli altri centri della zona.
Vík si trova ai piedi del ghiacciaio Mýrdalsjökull, che copre la cima del vulcano Katla, il che la espone a rischi di inondazione nel caso di ripresa dell'attività eruttiva da parte del vulcano. Nei pressi di Vík si trovano importanti attrazioni turistiche, come Dyrhólaey e l'area ai piedi del monte Reynisfjall.
Vík í Mýrdal is an Icelandic locations along the Ring Rd in the region Suðurland. Here you will find a gas station and a small restaurant, the distance quite populated data from other centers in the area.
Vik is located at the foot of Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which covers the top of the volcano Katla, which exposes it to the risk of flooding in the event of a resumption of the eruptive activity of the volcano. Near Vík are important tourist attractions, such as Dyrhólaey and the area at the foot of Mount Reynisfjall.
The new Lufthansa was founded in 1953 under a different name but then acquired the rights to the name and logo of the old, pre-war Luft Hansa. In 1955 the company purchased Lockheed 1049G Super Constellations for its long range routes.
In 1955, 10 years after the end of the war, chancellor Konrad Adenauer travelled to Moscow with a large delegation to prepare resumption of diplomatic relations between West Germany and the USSR and to negotiate important issues such as the return of the last 30,000 German POWs.
As there still was no German air force at the time, there also was no "Air Force One" and the government rented two of Lufthansa's Super Constellations for the journey. One of them was D-ALIN.
The plane was withdrawn from use with Lufthansa already in 1967 and was on exhibit at Hamburg airport until 1980; and then it came to the Hermeskeil aviation museum, where it currently still is ... much worse for wear.
Leica R5 (10060), made in 1990
Leitz Elmarit-R 24 mm (11221), made in 1984
Kodak Ektar 100 colour negative film
Developed and scanned by www.meinfilmlab.de
Schools class Cheltenham 30295 eases into Alresford Station with a train after the resumption of services following the Covid restrictions.
OK, I know, it's a picture that has been done a thousand times before, but not much more one can do on a family day out with a five year old in tow . . .
Mid Hants Railway, Alresford, UK.
April 2021. © David Hill
All services are suspended at the Great Central Railway.
"Happy New Year to all of our visitors and supporters!
Due to the present national restrictions, we will not be operating trains during January of 2021, and our cafés are also closed at the present time.
We will return, and look forward to the resumption of train services, and general reopening soon."
#278: As of 5/20/22, of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #278 in most # of faves.
#1076: As of 4/18/22, under Flickr's popularity rankings of my 3100+ pics, this is listed as #1076 in "interestingness."
#1106: As of 5/16/22, of my 3200+ pics, this is listed as #1106 in most # of comments.
For a fun interlude, this is an alternative/filtered image based off one of my popular pics posted here on flickr in the last year+. This particular image was generated with the help of the FaceApp application, where I took a photo of the original "2020-02-12-pic30" pic I've posted here, then just applied a simple filter. This was done in part to help with the graininess or the poor lighting in the original - and to have some fun with light filtering.
The day this pic was originally taken, Feb 12, 2020, is still the last opportunity I've had for dressing up and going out en femme. It was about a month before everything shut down because of coronavirus, and (most impactful for my femme activity) about a month before my wife's company's office closed permanently, leaving her to work from home every day since then.
I'm still hopeful for some (limited) resumption of femme activity. Anyhow, when the opportunity does arise, I hope I can capture some of the magic I had this day from just over 2 years ago. What do you think? :-)
Amid the magnificent backdrop of turreted towers, forested hills and, er, yet to be installed cess tanks, 60076 approaches Pensarn Beach with the now correctly headcoded 6F22 Penmaenmawr-Tuebrook stone for Hanson Aggregates.
After dropping a class 66 on the last couple of runs, GBRf righted wrongs today with the resumption of class 60 operation.
Let us never speak of past mistakes again...
16 May 2022
Photo Copyright 2012, dynamo.photography.
All rights reserved, no use without license
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Hong kong)
Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, is an autonomous territory south to Mainland China and east to Macao in East Asia. With around 7.2 million Hong Kongers of various nationalities[note 2] in a territory of 1,104 km2, Hong Kong is the world's fourth most densely populated country or territory.
Hong Kong used to be a British colony with the perpetual cession of Hong Kong Island from the Qing Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42). The colony expanded to the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and acquired a 99-year lease of the New Territories from 1898. Hong Kong was later occupied by Japan during the Second World War until British control resumed in 1945. The Sino-British Joint Declaration signed between the United Kingdom and China in 1984 paved way for the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997, when it became a special administrative region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China with a high degree of autonomy.[15]
Under the principle of "one country, two systems",[16][17] Hong Kong maintains a separate political and economic system from China. Except in military defence and foreign affairs, Hong Kong maintains its independent executive, legislative and judiciary powers.[18] In addition, Hong Kong develops relations directly with foreign states and international organisations in a broad range of "appropriate fields".[19] Hong Kong involves in international organizations, such as the WTO[20] and the APEC [21], actively and independently.
Hong Kong is one of the world's most significant financial centres, with the highest Financial Development Index score and consistently ranks as the world's most competitive and freest economic entity.[22][23] As the world's 8th largest trading entity,[24] its legal tender, the Hong Kong dollar, is the world's 13th most traded currency.[25] As the world's most visited city,[26][27] Hong Kong's tertiary sector dominated economy is characterised by competitive simple taxation and supported by its independent judiciary system.[28] Even with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, it suffers from severe income inequality.[29]
Nicknamed "Pearl of the Orient", Hong Kong is renowned for its deep natural harbour, which boasts the world's fifth busiest port with ready access by cargo ships, and its impressive skyline, with the most skyscrapers in the world.[30][31] It has a very high Human Development Index ranking and the world's longest life expectancy.[32][33] Over 90% of the population makes use of well-developed public transportation.[34][35] Seasonal air pollution with origins from neighbouring industrial areas of Mainland China, which adopts loose emissions standards, has resulted in a high level of atmospheric particulates in winter.[36][37][38]
Contents
1 Etymology
2 History
2.1 Prehistory
2.2 Imperial China
2.3 British Crown Colony: 1842–1941
2.4 Japanese occupation: 1941–45
2.5 Resumption of British rule and industrialisation: 1945–97
2.6 Handover and Special Administrative Region status
3 Governance
3.1 Structure of government
3.2 Electoral and political reforms
3.3 Legal system and judiciary
3.4 Foreign relations
3.5 Human rights
3.6 Regions and districts
3.7 Military
4 Geography and climate
5 Economy
5.1 Financial centre
5.2 International trading
5.3 Tourism and expatriation
5.4 Policy
5.5 Infrastructure
6 Demographics
6.1 Languages
6.2 Religion
6.3 Personal income
6.4 Education
6.5 Health
7 Culture
7.1 Sports
7.2 Architecture
7.3 Cityscape
7.4 Symbols
8 See also
9 Notes
10 References
10.1 Citations
10.2 Sources
11 Further reading
12 External links
Etymology
Hong Kong was officially recorded in the 1842 Treaty of Nanking to encompass the entirety of the island.[39]
The source of the romanised name "Hong Kong" is not known, but it is generally believed to be an early imprecise phonetic rendering of the pronunciation in spoken Cantonese 香港 (Cantonese Yale: Hēung Góng), which means "Fragrant Harbour" or "Incense Harbour".[13][14][40] Before 1842, the name referred to a small inlet—now Aberdeen Harbour (Chinese: 香港仔; Cantonese Yale: Hēunggóng jái), literally means "Little Hong Kong"—between Aberdeen Island and the southern coast of Hong Kong Island. Aberdeen was an initial point of contact between British sailors and local fishermen.[41]
Another theory is that the name would have been taken from Hong Kong's early inhabitants, the Tankas (水上人); it is equally probable that romanisation was done with a faithful execution of their speeches, i.e. hōng, not hēung in Cantonese.[42] Detailed and accurate romanisation systems for Cantonese were available and in use at the time.[43]
Fragrance may refer to the sweet taste of the harbour's fresh water estuarine influx of the Pearl River or to the incense from factories lining the coast of northern Kowloon. The incense was stored near Aberdeen Harbour for export before Hong Kong developed Victoria Harbour.[40]
The name had often been written as the single word Hongkong until the government adopted the current form in 1926.[44] Nevertheless, a number of century-old institutions still retain the single-word form, such as the Hongkong Post, Hongkong Electric and the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
As of 1997, its official name is the "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China". This is the official title as mentioned in the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Hong Kong Government's website;[45] however, "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" and "Hong Kong" are widely accepted.
Hong Kong has carried many nicknames. The most famous among those is the "Pearl of the Orient", which reflected the impressive nightscape of the city's light decorations on the skyscrapers along both sides of the Victoria Harbour. The territory is also known as "Asia's World City".
History
Main articles: History of Hong Kong and History of China
Prehistory
Main article: Prehistoric Hong Kong
Archaeological studies support human presence in the Chek Lap Kok area (now Hong Kong International Airport) from 35,000 to 39,000 years ago and on Sai Kung Peninsula from 6,000 years ago.[46][47][48]
Wong Tei Tung and Three Fathoms Cove are the earliest sites of human habitation in Hong Kong during the Paleolithic Period. It is believed that the Three Fathom Cove was a river-valley settlement and Wong Tei Tung was a lithic manufacturing site. Excavated Neolithic artefacts suggested cultural differences from the Longshan culture of northern China and settlement by the Che people, prior to the migration of the Baiyue to Hong Kong.[49][50] Eight petroglyphs, which dated to the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC – 1066 BC) in China, were discovered on the surrounding islands.[51]
Imperial China
Main article: History of Hong Kong under Imperial China
In 214 BC, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a centralised China, conquered the Baiyue tribes in Jiaozhi (modern-day Liangguang region and Vietnam) and incorporated the area of Hong Kong into his imperial China for the first time. Hong Kong proper was assigned to the Nanhai commandery (modern-day Nanhai District), near the commandery's capital city Panyu.[52][53][54]
After a brief period of centralisation and collapse of the Qin dynasty, the area of Hong Kong was consolidated under the Kingdom of Nanyue, founded by general Zhao Tuo in 204 BC.[55] When Nanyue lost the Han-Nanyue War in 111 BC, Hong Kong came under the Jiaozhi commandery of the Han dynasty. Archaeological evidence indicates an increase of population and flourish of salt production. The Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb on the Kowloon Peninsula is believed to have been built as a burial site during the Han dynasty.[56]
From the Han dynasty to the early Tang dynasty, Hong Kong was a part of Bao'an County. In the Tang dynasty, modern-day Guangzhou (Canton) flourished as an international trading centre. In 736, the Emperor Xuanzong of Tang established a military stronghold in Tuen Mun to strengthen defence of the coastal area.[57] The nearby Lantau Island was a salt production centre and salt smuggler riots occasionally broke out against the government. In c. 1075, The first village school, Li Ying College, was established around 1075 AD in modern-day New Territories by the Northern Song dynasty.[58] During their war against the Mongols, the imperial court of Southern Song was briefly stationed at modern-day Kowloon City (the Sung Wong Toi site) before their ultimate defeat by the Mongols at the Battle of Yamen in 1279.[59] The Mongols then established their dynastic court and governed Hong Kong for 97 years.
From the mid-Tang dynasty to the early Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Hong Kong was a part of Dongguan County. During the Ming dynasty, the area was transferred to Xin'an County. The indigenous inhabitants at that time consisted of several ethnicities such as Punti, Hakka, Tanka and Hoklo.
European discovery
The earliest European visitor on record was Jorge Álvares, a Portuguese explorer, who arrived in 1513.[60][61] Having established a trading post in a site they called "Tamão" in Hong Kong waters, Portuguese merchants commenced with regular trading in southern China. Subsequent military clashes between China and Portugal, however, led to the expulsion of all Portuguese merchants from southern China.
Since the 14th century, the Ming court had enforced the maritime prohibition laws that strictly forbade all private maritime activities in order to prevent contact with foreigners by sea.[62] When the Manchu Qing dynasty took over China, Hong Kong was directly affected by the Great Clearance decree of the Kangxi Emperor, who ordered the evacuation of coastal areas of Guangdong from 1661 to 1669. Over 16,000 inhabitants of Xin'an County including those in Hong Kong were forced to migrate inland; only 1,648 of those who had evacuated subsequently returned.[63][64]
British Crown Colony: 1842–1941
A painter at work. John Thomson. Hong Kong, 1871. The Wellcome Collection, London
Main articles: British Hong Kong and History of Hong Kong (1800s–1930s)
In 1839, threats by the imperial court of Qing to sanction opium imports caused diplomatic friction with the British Empire. Tensions escalated into the First Opium War. The Qing admitted defeat when British forces captured Hong Kong Island on 20 January 1841. The island was initially ceded under the Convention of Chuenpi as part of a ceasefire agreement between Captain Charles Elliot and Governor Qishan. A dispute between high-ranking officials of both countries, however, led to the failure of the treaty's ratification. On 29 August 1842, Hong Kong Island was formally ceded in perpetuity to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Treaty of Nanking.[65] The British officially established a Crown colony and founded the City of Victoria in the following year.[66]
The population of Hong Kong Island was 7,450 when the Union Flag raised over Possession Point on 26 January 1841. It mostly consisted of Tanka fishermen and Hakka charcoal burners, whose settlements scattered along several coastal hamlets. In the 1850s, a large number of Chinese immigrants crossed the then-free border to escape from the Taiping Rebellion. Other natural disasters, such as flooding, typhoons and famine in mainland China would play a role in establishing Hong Kong as a place for safe shelter.[67][68]
Further conflicts over the opium trade between Britain and Qing quickly escalated into the Second Opium War. Following the Anglo-French victory, the Crown Colony was expanded to include Kowloon Peninsula (south of Boundary Street) and Stonecutter's Island, both of which were ceded to the British in perpetuity under the Convention of Beijing in 1860.
In 1898, Britain obtained a 99-year lease from Qing under the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory, in which Hong Kong obtained a 99-year lease of Lantau Island, the area north of Boundary Street in Kowloon up to Shenzhen River and over 200 other outlying islands.[69][70][71]
Hong Kong soon became a major entrepôt thanks to its free port status, attracting new immigrants to settle from both China and Europe. The society, however, remained racially segregated and polarised under early British colonial policies. Despite the rise of a British-educated Chinese upper-class by the late-19th century, race laws such as the Peak Reservation Ordinance prevented ethnic Chinese in Hong Kong from acquiring houses in reserved areas such as Victoria Peak. At this time, the majority of the Chinese population in Hong Kong had no political representation in the British colonial government. The British governors did rely, however, on a small number of Chinese elites, including Sir Kai Ho and Robert Hotung, who served as ambassadors and mediators between the government and local population.
File:1937 Hong Kong VP8.webmPlay media
Hong Kong filmed in 1937
In 1904, the United Kingdom established the world's first border and immigration control; all residents of Hong Kong were given citizenship as Citizens of United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC).
Hong Kong continued to experience modest growth during the first half of the 20th century. The University of Hong Kong was established in 1911 as the territory's first higher education institute. While there had been an exodus of 60,000 residents for fear of a German attack on the British colony during the First World War, Hong Kong remained unscathed. Its population increased from 530,000 in 1916 to 725,000 in 1925 and reached 1.6 million by 1941.[72]
In 1925, Cecil Clementi became the 17th Governor of Hong Kong. Fluent in Cantonese and without a need for translator, Clementi introduced the first ethnic Chinese, Shouson Chow, into the Executive Council as an unofficial member. Under Clementi's tenure, Kai Tak Airport entered operation as RAF Kai Tak and several aviation clubs. In 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out when the Japanese Empire expanded its territories from northeastern China into the mainland proper. To safeguard Hong Kong as a freeport, Governor Geoffry Northcote declared the Crown Colony as a neutral zone.
Japanese occupation: 1941–45
Main article: Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
The Cenotaph in Hong Kong commemorates those who died in service in the First World War and the Second World War.[73]
As part of its military campaign in Southeast Asia during Second World War, the Japanese army moved south from Guangzhou of mainland China and attacked Hong Kong in on 8 December 1941.[74] Crossing the border at Shenzhen River on 8 December, the Battle of Hong Kong lasted for 18 days when British and Canadian forces held onto Hong Kong Island. Unable to defend against intensifying Japanese air and land bombardments, they eventually surrendered control of Hong Kong on 25 December 1941. The Governor of Hong Kong was captured and taken as a prisoner of war. This day is regarded by the locals as "Black Christmas".[75]
During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, the Japanese army committed atrocities against civilians and POWs, such as the St. Stephen's College massacre. Local residents also suffered widespread food shortages, limited rationing and hyper-inflation arising from the forced exchange of currency from Hong Kong dollars to Japanese military banknotes. The initial ratio of 2:1 was gradually devalued to 4:1 and ownership of Hong Kong dollars was declared illegal and punishable by harsh torture. Due to starvation and forced deportation for slave labour to mainland China, the population of Hong Kong had dwindled from 1.6 million in 1941 to 600,000 in 1945, when the United Kingdom resumed control of the colony on 2 September 1945.[76]
Resumption of British rule and industrialisation: 1945–97
Main articles: British Hong Kong, 1950s in Hong Kong, 1960s in Hong Kong, 1970s in Hong Kong, 1980s in Hong Kong, and 1990s in Hong Kong
Flag of British Hong Kong from 1959 to 1997
Hong Kong's population recovered quickly after the war, as a wave of skilled migrants from the Republic of China moved in to seek refuge from the Chinese Civil War. When the Communist Party eventually took full control of mainland China in 1949, even more skilled migrants fled across the open border for fear of persecution.[69] Many newcomers, especially those who had been based in the major port cities of Shanghai and Guangzhou, established corporations and small- to medium-sized businesses and shifted their base operations to British Hong Kong.[69] The establishment of a socialist state in China (People's Republic of China) on 1 October 1949 caused the British colonial government to reconsider Hong Kong's open border to mainland China. In 1951, a boundary zone was demarked as a buffer zone against potential military attacks from communist China. Border posts along the north of Hong Kong began operation in 1953 to regulate the movement of people and goods into and out of the territory.
Stamp with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953
In the 1950s, Hong Kong became the first of the Four Asian Tiger economies under rapid industrialisation driven by textile exports, manufacturing industries and re-exports of goods to China. As the population grew, with labour costs remaining low, living standards began to rise steadily.[77] The construction of the Shek Kip Mei Estate in 1953 marked the beginning of the public housing estate programme to provide shelter for the less privileged and to cope with the influx of immigrants.
Under Sir Murray MacLehose, 25th Governor of Hong Kong (1971–82), a series of reforms improved the public services, environment, housing, welfare, education and infrastructure of Hong Kong. MacLehose was British Hong Kong's longest-serving governor and, by the end of his tenure, had become one of the most popular and well-known figures in the Crown Colony. MacLehose laid the foundation for Hong Kong to establish itself as a key global city in the 1980s and early 1990s.
A sky view of Hong Kong Island
An aerial view of the northern shore of Hong Kong Island in 1986
To resolve traffic congestion and to provide a more reliable means of crossing the Victoria Harbour, a rapid transit railway system (metro), the MTR, was planned from the 1970s onwards. The Island Line (Hong Kong Island), Kwun Tong Line (Kowloon Peninsula and East Kowloon) and Tsuen Wan Line (Kowloon and urban New Territories) opened in the early 1980s.[78]
In 1983, the Hong Kong dollar left its 16:1 peg with the Pound sterling and switched to the current US-HK Dollar peg. Hong Kong's competitiveness in manufacturing gradually declined due to rising labour and property costs, as well as new development in southern China under the Open Door Policy introduced in 1978 which opened up China to foreign business. Nevertheless, towards the early 1990s, Hong Kong had established itself as a global financial centre along with London and New York City, a regional hub for logistics and freight, one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia and the world's exemplar of Laissez-faire market policy.[79]
The Hong Kong question
In 1971, the Republic of China (Taiwan)'s permanent seat on the United Nations was transferred to the People's Republic of China (PRC), Hong Kong's status as a recognised colony became terminated in 1972 under the request of PRC. Facing the uncertain future of Hong Kong and expiry of land lease of New Territories beyond 1997, Governor MacLehose raised the question in the late 1970s.
The British Nationality Act 1981 reclassified Hong Kong into a British Dependent Territory amid the reorganisation of global territories of the British Empire. All residents of Hong Kong became British Dependent Territory Citizens (BDTC). Diplomatic negotiations began with China and eventually concluded with the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. Both countries agreed to transfer Hong Kong's sovereignty to China on 1 July 1997, when Hong Kong would remain autonomous as a special administrative region and be able to retain its free-market economy, British common law through the Hong Kong Basic Law, independent representation in international organisations (e.g. WTO and WHO), treaty arrangements and policy-making except foreign diplomacy and military defence.
It stipulated that Hong Kong would retain its laws and be guaranteed a high degree of autonomy for at least 50 years after the transfer. The Hong Kong Basic Law, based on English law, would serve as the constitutional document after the transfer. It was ratified in 1990.[69] The expiry of the 1898 lease on the New Territories in 1997 created problems for business contracts, property leases and confidence among foreign investors.
Handover and Special Administrative Region status
Main articles: Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong and 2000s in Hong Kong
Transfer of sovereignty
Golden Bauhinia Square
On 1 July 1997, the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China took place, officially marking the end of Hong Kong's 156 years under British colonial governance. As the largest remaining colony of the United Kingdom, the loss of Hong Kong effectively represented the end of the British Empire. This transfer of sovereignty made Hong Kong the first special administrative region of China. Tung Chee-Hwa, a pro-Beijing business tycoon, was elected Hong Kong's first Chief Executive by a selected electorate of 800 in a televised programme.
Structure of government
Hong Kong's current structure of governance inherits from the British model of colonial administration set up in the 1850s. The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration states that "Hong Kong should enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all areas except defence and foreign affairs" with reference to the underlying principle of one country, two systems.[note 3] This Declaration stipulates that Hong Kong maintains her capitalist economic system and guarantees the rights and freedoms of her people for at least 50 years after the 1997 handover. [note 4] Such guarantees are enshrined in the Hong Kong's Basic Law, the territory's constitutional document, which outlines the system of governance after 1997, albeit subject to interpretation by China's Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC).[95][96]
Hong Kong's most senior leader, Chief Executive, is elected by a committee of 1,200 selected members (600 in 1997) and nominally appointed by the Government of China. The primary pillars of government are the Executive Council, Legislative Council, civil service and Judiciary.
Policy-making is initially discussed in the Executive Council, presided by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, before passing to the Legislative Council for bill adoption. The Executive Council consists of 30 official/unofficial members appointed by the Chief Executive and one member among them acts as the convenor.[97][98]
The Legislative Council, set up in 1843, debates policies and motions before voting to adopt or rejecting bills. It has 70 members (originally 60) and 40 (originally 30) among them are directly elected by universal suffrage; the other 30 members are "functional constituencies" (indirectly) elected by a smaller electorate of corporate bodies or representatives of stipulated economic sectors as defined by the government. The Legislative Council is chaired by a president who acts as the speaker.[99][100]
In 1997, seating of the Legislative Council (also public services and election franchises) of Hong Kong modelled on the British system: Urban Council (Hong Kong and Kowloon) and District Council (New Territories and Outlying Islands). In 1999, this system has been reformed into 18 directly elected District Offices across 5 Legislative Council constituencies: Hong Kong Island (East/West), Kowloon and New Territories (East/West); the remaining outlying islands are divided across the aforementioned regions.
Hong Kong's Civil Service, created by the British colonial government, is a politically neutral body that implements government policies and provides public services. Senior civil servants are appointed based on meritocracy. The territory's police, firefighting and customs forces, as well as clerical officers across various government departments, make up the civil service.[101][102]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Hong kong)
Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, is an autonomous territory south to Mainland China and east to Macao in East Asia. With around 7.2 million Hong Kongers of various nationalities[note 2] in a territory of 1,104 km2, Hong Kong is the world's fourth most densely populated country or territory.
Hong Kong used to be a British colony with the perpetual cession of Hong Kong Island from the Qing Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42). The colony expanded to the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and acquired a 99-year lease of the New Territories from 1898. Hong Kong was later occupied by Japan during the Second World War until British control resumed in 1945. The Sino-British Joint Declaration signed between the United Kingdom and China in 1984 paved way for the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997, when it became a special administrative region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China with a high degree of autonomy.[15]
Under the principle of "one country, two systems",[16][17] Hong Kong maintains a separate political and economic system from China. Except in military defence and foreign affairs, Hong Kong maintains its independent executive, legislative and judiciary powers.[18] In addition, Hong Kong develops relations directly with foreign states and international organisations in a broad range of "appropriate fields".[19] Hong Kong involves in international organizations, such as the WTO[20] and the APEC [21], actively and independently.
Hong Kong is one of the world's most significant financial centres, with the highest Financial Development Index score and consistently ranks as the world's most competitive and freest economic entity.[22][23] As the world's 8th largest trading entity,[24] its legal tender, the Hong Kong dollar, is the world's 13th most traded currency.[25] As the world's most visited city,[26][27] Hong Kong's tertiary sector dominated economy is characterised by competitive simple taxation and supported by its independent judiciary system.[28] Even with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, it suffers from severe income inequality.[29]
Nicknamed "Pearl of the Orient", Hong Kong is renowned for its deep natural harbour, which boasts the world's fifth busiest port with ready access by cargo ships, and its impressive skyline, with the most skyscrapers in the world.[30][31] It has a very high Human Development Index ranking and the world's longest life expectancy.[32][33] Over 90% of the population makes use of well-developed public transportation.[34][35] Seasonal air pollution with origins from neighbouring industrial areas of Mainland China, which adopts loose emissions standards, has resulted in a high level of atmospheric particulates in winter.[36][37][38]
Contents
1 Etymology
2 History
2.1 Prehistory
2.2 Imperial China
2.3 British Crown Colony: 1842–1941
2.4 Japanese occupation: 1941–45
2.5 Resumption of British rule and industrialisation: 1945–97
2.6 Handover and Special Administrative Region status
3 Governance
3.1 Structure of government
3.2 Electoral and political reforms
3.3 Legal system and judiciary
3.4 Foreign relations
3.5 Human rights
3.6 Regions and districts
3.7 Military
4 Geography and climate
5 Economy
5.1 Financial centre
5.2 International trading
5.3 Tourism and expatriation
5.4 Policy
5.5 Infrastructure
6 Demographics
6.1 Languages
6.2 Religion
6.3 Personal income
6.4 Education
6.5 Health
7 Culture
7.1 Sports
7.2 Architecture
7.3 Cityscape
7.4 Symbols
8 See also
9 Notes
10 References
10.1 Citations
10.2 Sources
11 Further reading
12 External links
Etymology
Hong Kong was officially recorded in the 1842 Treaty of Nanking to encompass the entirety of the island.[39]
The source of the romanised name "Hong Kong" is not known, but it is generally believed to be an early imprecise phonetic rendering of the pronunciation in spoken Cantonese 香港 (Cantonese Yale: Hēung Góng), which means "Fragrant Harbour" or "Incense Harbour".[13][14][40] Before 1842, the name referred to a small inlet—now Aberdeen Harbour (Chinese: 香港仔; Cantonese Yale: Hēunggóng jái), literally means "Little Hong Kong"—between Aberdeen Island and the southern coast of Hong Kong Island. Aberdeen was an initial point of contact between British sailors and local fishermen.[41]
Another theory is that the name would have been taken from Hong Kong's early inhabitants, the Tankas (水上人); it is equally probable that romanisation was done with a faithful execution of their speeches, i.e. hōng, not hēung in Cantonese.[42] Detailed and accurate romanisation systems for Cantonese were available and in use at the time.[43]
Fragrance may refer to the sweet taste of the harbour's fresh water estuarine influx of the Pearl River or to the incense from factories lining the coast of northern Kowloon. The incense was stored near Aberdeen Harbour for export before Hong Kong developed Victoria Harbour.[40]
The name had often been written as the single word Hongkong until the government adopted the current form in 1926.[44] Nevertheless, a number of century-old institutions still retain the single-word form, such as the Hongkong Post, Hongkong Electric and the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
As of 1997, its official name is the "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China". This is the official title as mentioned in the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Hong Kong Government's website;[45] however, "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" and "Hong Kong" are widely accepted.
Hong Kong has carried many nicknames. The most famous among those is the "Pearl of the Orient", which reflected the impressive nightscape of the city's light decorations on the skyscrapers along both sides of the Victoria Harbour. The territory is also known as "Asia's World City".
History
Main articles: History of Hong Kong and History of China
Prehistory
Main article: Prehistoric Hong Kong
Archaeological studies support human presence in the Chek Lap Kok area (now Hong Kong International Airport) from 35,000 to 39,000 years ago and on Sai Kung Peninsula from 6,000 years ago.[46][47][48]
Wong Tei Tung and Three Fathoms Cove are the earliest sites of human habitation in Hong Kong during the Paleolithic Period. It is believed that the Three Fathom Cove was a river-valley settlement and Wong Tei Tung was a lithic manufacturing site. Excavated Neolithic artefacts suggested cultural differences from the Longshan culture of northern China and settlement by the Che people, prior to the migration of the Baiyue to Hong Kong.[49][50] Eight petroglyphs, which dated to the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC – 1066 BC) in China, were discovered on the surrounding islands.[51]
Imperial China
Main article: History of Hong Kong under Imperial China
In 214 BC, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a centralised China, conquered the Baiyue tribes in Jiaozhi (modern-day Liangguang region and Vietnam) and incorporated the area of Hong Kong into his imperial China for the first time. Hong Kong proper was assigned to the Nanhai commandery (modern-day Nanhai District), near the commandery's capital city Panyu.[52][53][54]
After a brief period of centralisation and collapse of the Qin dynasty, the area of Hong Kong was consolidated under the Kingdom of Nanyue, founded by general Zhao Tuo in 204 BC.[55] When Nanyue lost the Han-Nanyue War in 111 BC, Hong Kong came under the Jiaozhi commandery of the Han dynasty. Archaeological evidence indicates an increase of population and flourish of salt production. The Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb on the Kowloon Peninsula is believed to have been built as a burial site during the Han dynasty.[56]
From the Han dynasty to the early Tang dynasty, Hong Kong was a part of Bao'an County. In the Tang dynasty, modern-day Guangzhou (Canton) flourished as an international trading centre. In 736, the Emperor Xuanzong of Tang established a military stronghold in Tuen Mun to strengthen defence of the coastal area.[57] The nearby Lantau Island was a salt production centre and salt smuggler riots occasionally broke out against the government. In c. 1075, The first village school, Li Ying College, was established around 1075 AD in modern-day New Territories by the Northern Song dynasty.[58] During their war against the Mongols, the imperial court of Southern Song was briefly stationed at modern-day Kowloon City (the Sung Wong Toi site) before their ultimate defeat by the Mongols at the Battle of Yamen in 1279.[59] The Mongols then established their dynastic court and governed Hong Kong for 97 years.
From the mid-Tang dynasty to the early Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Hong Kong was a part of Dongguan County. During the Ming dynasty, the area was transferred to Xin'an County. The indigenous inhabitants at that time consisted of several ethnicities such as Punti, Hakka, Tanka and Hoklo.
European discovery
The earliest European visitor on record was Jorge Álvares, a Portuguese explorer, who arrived in 1513.[60][61] Having established a trading post in a site they called "Tamão" in Hong Kong waters, Portuguese merchants commenced with regular trading in southern China. Subsequent military clashes between China and Portugal, however, led to the expulsion of all Portuguese merchants from southern China.
Since the 14th century, the Ming court had enforced the maritime prohibition laws that strictly forbade all private maritime activities in order to prevent contact with foreigners by sea.[62] When the Manchu Qing dynasty took over China, Hong Kong was directly affected by the Great Clearance decree of the Kangxi Emperor, who ordered the evacuation of coastal areas of Guangdong from 1661 to 1669. Over 16,000 inhabitants of Xin'an County including those in Hong Kong were forced to migrate inland; only 1,648 of those who had evacuated subsequently returned.[63][64]
British Crown Colony: 1842–1941
A painter at work. John Thomson. Hong Kong, 1871. The Wellcome Collection, London
Main articles: British Hong Kong and History of Hong Kong (1800s–1930s)
In 1839, threats by the imperial court of Qing to sanction opium imports caused diplomatic friction with the British Empire. Tensions escalated into the First Opium War. The Qing admitted defeat when British forces captured Hong Kong Island on 20 January 1841. The island was initially ceded under the Convention of Chuenpi as part of a ceasefire agreement between Captain Charles Elliot and Governor Qishan. A dispute between high-ranking officials of both countries, however, led to the failure of the treaty's ratification. On 29 August 1842, Hong Kong Island was formally ceded in perpetuity to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Treaty of Nanking.[65] The British officially established a Crown colony and founded the City of Victoria in the following year.[66]
The population of Hong Kong Island was 7,450 when the Union Flag raised over Possession Point on 26 January 1841. It mostly consisted of Tanka fishermen and Hakka charcoal burners, whose settlements scattered along several coastal hamlets. In the 1850s, a large number of Chinese immigrants crossed the then-free border to escape from the Taiping Rebellion. Other natural disasters, such as flooding, typhoons and famine in mainland China would play a role in establishing Hong Kong as a place for safe shelter.[67][68]
Further conflicts over the opium trade between Britain and Qing quickly escalated into the Second Opium War. Following the Anglo-French victory, the Crown Colony was expanded to include Kowloon Peninsula (south of Boundary Street) and Stonecutter's Island, both of which were ceded to the British in perpetuity under the Convention of Beijing in 1860.
In 1898, Britain obtained a 99-year lease from Qing under the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory, in which Hong Kong obtained a 99-year lease of Lantau Island, the area north of Boundary Street in Kowloon up to Shenzhen River and over 200 other outlying islands.[69][70][71]
Hong Kong soon became a major entrepôt thanks to its free port status, attracting new immigrants to settle from both China and Europe. The society, however, remained racially segregated and polarised under early British colonial policies. Despite the rise of a British-educated Chinese upper-class by the late-19th century, race laws such as the Peak Reservation Ordinance prevented ethnic Chinese in Hong Kong from acquiring houses in reserved areas such as Victoria Peak. At this time, the majority of the Chinese population in Hong Kong had no political representation in the British colonial government. The British governors did rely, however, on a small number of Chinese elites, including Sir Kai Ho and Robert Hotung, who served as ambassadors and mediators between the government and local population.
File:1937 Hong Kong VP8.webmPlay media
Hong Kong filmed in 1937
In 1904, the United Kingdom established the world's first border and immigration control; all residents of Hong Kong were given citizenship as Citizens of United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC).
Hong Kong continued to experience modest growth during the first half of the 20th century. The University of Hong Kong was established in 1911 as the territory's first higher education institute. While there had been an exodus of 60,000 residents for fear of a German attack on the British colony during the First World War, Hong Kong remained unscathed. Its population increased from 530,000 in 1916 to 725,000 in 1925 and reached 1.6 million by 1941.[72]
In 1925, Cecil Clementi became the 17th Governor of Hong Kong. Fluent in Cantonese and without a need for translator, Clementi introduced the first ethnic Chinese, Shouson Chow, into the Executive Council as an unofficial member. Under Clementi's tenure, Kai Tak Airport entered operation as RAF Kai Tak and several aviation clubs. In 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out when the Japanese Empire expanded its territories from northeastern China into the mainland proper. To safeguard Hong Kong as a freeport, Governor Geoffry Northcote declared the Crown Colony as a neutral zone.
Japanese occupation: 1941–45
Main article: Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
The Cenotaph in Hong Kong commemorates those who died in service in the First World War and the Second World War.[73]
As part of its military campaign in Southeast Asia during Second World War, the Japanese army moved south from Guangzhou of mainland China and attacked Hong Kong in on 8 December 1941.[74] Crossing the border at Shenzhen River on 8 December, the Battle of Hong Kong lasted for 18 days when British and Canadian forces held onto Hong Kong Island. Unable to defend against intensifying Japanese air and land bombardments, they eventually surrendered control of Hong Kong on 25 December 1941. The Governor of Hong Kong was captured and taken as a prisoner of war. This day is regarded by the locals as "Black Christmas".[75]
During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, the Japanese army committed atrocities against civilians and POWs, such as the St. Stephen's College massacre. Local residents also suffered widespread food shortages, limited rationing and hyper-inflation arising from the forced exchange of currency from Hong Kong dollars to Japanese military banknotes. The initial ratio of 2:1 was gradually devalued to 4:1 and ownership of Hong Kong dollars was declared illegal and punishable by harsh torture. Due to starvation and forced deportation for slave labour to mainland China, the population of Hong Kong had dwindled from 1.6 million in 1941 to 600,000 in 1945, when the United Kingdom resumed control of the colony on 2 September 1945.[76]
Resumption of British rule and industrialisation: 1945–97
Main articles: British Hong Kong, 1950s in Hong Kong, 1960s in Hong Kong, 1970s in Hong Kong, 1980s in Hong Kong, and 1990s in Hong Kong
Flag of British Hong Kong from 1959 to 1997
Hong Kong's population recovered quickly after the war, as a wave of skilled migrants from the Republic of China moved in to seek refuge from the Chinese Civil War. When the Communist Party eventually took full control of mainland China in 1949, even more skilled migrants fled across the open border for fear of persecution.[69] Many newcomers, especially those who had been based in the major port cities of Shanghai and Guangzhou, established corporations and small- to medium-sized businesses and shifted their base operations to British Hong Kong.[69] The establishment of a socialist state in China (People's Republic of China) on 1 October 1949 caused the British colonial government to reconsider Hong Kong's open border to mainland China. In 1951, a boundary zone was demarked as a buffer zone against potential military attacks from communist China. Border posts along the north of Hong Kong began operation in 1953 to regulate the movement of people and goods into and out of the territory.
Stamp with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953
In the 1950s, Hong Kong became the first of the Four Asian Tiger economies under rapid industrialisation driven by textile exports, manufacturing industries and re-exports of goods to China. As the population grew, with labour costs remaining low, living standards began to rise steadily.[77] The construction of the Shek Kip Mei Estate in 1953 marked the beginning of the public housing estate programme to provide shelter for the less privileged and to cope with the influx of immigrants.
Under Sir Murray MacLehose, 25th Governor of Hong Kong (1971–82), a series of reforms improved the public services, environment, housing, welfare, education and infrastructure of Hong Kong. MacLehose was British Hong Kong's longest-serving governor and, by the end of his tenure, had become one of the most popular and well-known figures in the Crown Colony. MacLehose laid the foundation for Hong Kong to establish itself as a key global city in the 1980s and early 1990s.
A sky view of Hong Kong Island
An aerial view of the northern shore of Hong Kong Island in 1986
To resolve traffic congestion and to provide a more reliable means of crossing the Victoria Harbour, a rapid transit railway system (metro), the MTR, was planned from the 1970s onwards. The Island Line (Hong Kong Island), Kwun Tong Line (Kowloon Peninsula and East Kowloon) and Tsuen Wan Line (Kowloon and urban New Territories) opened in the early 1980s.[78]
In 1983, the Hong Kong dollar left its 16:1 peg with the Pound sterling and switched to the current US-HK Dollar peg. Hong Kong's competitiveness in manufacturing gradually declined due to rising labour and property costs, as well as new development in southern China under the Open Door Policy introduced in 1978 which opened up China to foreign business. Nevertheless, towards the early 1990s, Hong Kong had established itself as a global financial centre along with London and New York City, a regional hub for logistics and freight, one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia and the world's exemplar of Laissez-faire market policy.[79]
The Hong Kong question
In 1971, the Republic of China (Taiwan)'s permanent seat on the United Nations was transferred to the People's Republic of China (PRC), Hong Kong's status as a recognised colony became terminated in 1972 under the request of PRC. Facing the uncertain future of Hong Kong and expiry of land lease of New Territories beyond 1997, Governor MacLehose raised the question in the late 1970s.
The British Nationality Act 1981 reclassified Hong Kong into a British Dependent Territory amid the reorganisation of global territories of the British Empire. All residents of Hong Kong became British Dependent Territory Citizens (BDTC). Diplomatic negotiations began with China and eventually concluded with the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. Both countries agreed to transfer Hong Kong's sovereignty to China on 1 July 1997, when Hong Kong would remain autonomous as a special administrative region and be able to retain its free-market economy, British common law through the Hong Kong Basic Law, independent representation in international organisations (e.g. WTO and WHO), treaty arrangements and policy-making except foreign diplomacy and military defence.
It stipulated that Hong Kong would retain its laws and be guaranteed a high degree of autonomy for at least 50 years after the transfer. The Hong Kong Basic Law, based on English law, would serve as the constitutional document after the transfer. It was ratified in 1990.[69] The expiry of the 1898 lease on the New Territories in 1997 created problems for business contracts, property leases and confidence among foreign investors.
Handover and Special Administrative Region status
Main articles: Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong and 2000s in Hong Kong
Transfer of sovereignty
Golden Bauhinia Square
On 1 July 1997, the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China took place, officially marking the end of Hong Kong's 156 years under British colonial governance. As the largest remaining colony of the United Kingdom, the loss of Hong Kong effectively represented the end of the British Empire. This transfer of sovereignty made Hong Kong the first special administrative region of China. Tung Chee-Hwa, a pro-Beijing business tycoon, was elected Hong Kong's first Chief Executive by a selected electorate of 800 in a televised programme.
Structure of government
Hong Kong's current structure of governance inherits from the British model of colonial administration set up in the 1850s. The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration states that "Hong Kong should enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all areas except defence and foreign affairs" with reference to the underlying principle of one country, two systems.[note 3] This Declaration stipulates that Hong Kong maintains her capitalist economic system and guarantees the rights and freedoms of her people for at least 50 years after the 1997 handover. [note 4] Such guarantees are enshrined in the Hong Kong's Basic Law, the territory's constitutional document, which outlines the system of governance after 1997, albeit subject to interpretation by China's Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC).[95][96]
Hong Kong's most senior leader, Chief Executive, is elected by a committee of 1,200 selected members (600 in 1997) and nominally appointed by the Government of China. The primary pillars of government are the Executive Council, Legislative Council, civil service and Judiciary.
Policy-making is initially discussed in the Executive Council, presided by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, before passing to the Legislative Council for bill adoption. The Executive Council consists of 30 official/unofficial members appointed by the Chief Executive and one member among them acts as the convenor.[97][98]
The Legislative Council, set up in 1843, debates policies and motions before voting to adopt or rejecting bills. It has 70 members (originally 60) and 40 (originally 30) among them are directly elected by universal suffrage; the other 30 members are "functional constituencies" (indirectly) elected by a smaller electorate of corporate bodies or representatives of stipulated economic sectors as defined by the government. The Legislative Council is chaired by a president who acts as the speaker.[99][100]
In 1997, seating of the Legislative Council (also public services and election franchises) of Hong Kong modelled on the British system: Urban Council (Hong Kong and Kowloon) and District Council (New Territories and Outlying Islands). In 1999, this system has been reformed into 18 directly elected District Offices across 5 Legislative Council constituencies: Hong Kong Island (East/West), Kowloon and New Territories (East/West); the remaining outlying islands are divided across the aforementioned regions.
Hong Kong's Civil Service, created by the British colonial government, is a politically neutral body that implements government policies and provides public services. Senior civil servants are appointed based on meritocracy. The territory's police, firefighting and customs forces, as well as clerical officers across various government departments, make up the civil service.[101][102]
When my son and I crashed a train robbery on the McCloud Railway in 2003, we didn't appreciate that we were seeing a metaphor for the entire railroad. A little over a year later, the steam locomotive would be sold. In 2006, freight operations ceased. Although the scenic line from McCloud to Mount Shasta remains in place, resumption of rail activity becomes less likely with each passing year.
Good to see Austrian Airlines back in our city. They resumed services in September 2016 after suspending flights in 1999.
OE-LPD is seen here making a 07R departure as OS068 back to Vienna. This frame carries the "Servus Hong Kong" titles on the left side for celebrating the resumption of flights to HKG. It’s just such a shame it’s only displayed on one side.