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When it's late, don't stop looking
Where my eyes turn to glass
When it's late, don't stop,
Annie, I will make it back
this is my dear lexi
i have no idea how i got the focus like that =)
I started writing in 2000 when i was 14. Actually i started much earlier but thats the earliest i have saved. I dont know what happened to the ones before 2000. These are not in order, Didnt have the time for that but the 3rd one from the top is the oldest one from 2000-2001. I LOVE to write and fill my journals up with memories, doodles, sketches, and moments that i never want to forget. Im going to write until my hands just cant write anymore and im 6 feet under.
I won Notebook Addict Of The Week!!
www.notebookstories.com/2010/09/03/addict-of-the-week-cas...
That used to be my name when I was a Chinese Rap star, boyeeeee. I toured with No Smo King and No Loi Ter Ing.
____________________________________
For the month of February (2005), I am posting a link to a different "Flickr friend" each day. It may be a person you already know, or a completely new discovery, but it's someone whose work and vision I feel you might really enjoy.
I call it the "Flickr Daily Photog Pickr," and today's pick is Swerve : www.flickr.com/photos/jamesgold/
Enjoy!
____
Go here to read more, and see the first pick made: www.flickr.com/photos/drp/4186888/
A cart horse grazes in the pasture in near darkness
Velvia color tint instead of smartphone night mode
Fuji Velvia @50
Weak dynamic range of that slide film - and no grad. ND
Minolta XD5
Minolta 50 mm f/1.7
Vuescan
Plustek 7500i
Mid-res scan out of scanner - looks much better when using a slide projector
#Lemgo
This is free to use in your creative works.
Please do not redistribute or make small changes and claim it as your own.
Please provide credit via a link under your work back to this image or to my account where possible.
I would love see the results of your work, so please leave me a link or a small copy in my comment box below.
Thank you,
Brenda.
I belong to this set. ~Polaroids~
If you are looking for more stock images and textures, please check out my new group at
These are the little clay pots used by the buddhist worshippers to burn sacred oil at certain ceremonies. This shot was taken at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Used by the Rebellion as a precision strike craft; this drop-ship carried Rebel Jump Troopers to their drop zone safely, while providing heavy fire support for other troop transport vessels and cargo vessels.
Using cars and trucks for publicity purposes has a long tradition.
I found this image as an early example of vehicles as an advertisement object.
This Chevrolet made promotion for Van Nelle Tabak, Rotterdam in the early 1930s.
I have no further information about this Chevrolet truck.
Picture taken from a photograph found in the book: Lastwagens, Vrachtauto's en Trucks by Martin Wallast, Rijswijk, Elmar, 1986.
Amsterdam, Oct. 3, 2019.
© 1986/2019 Elmar/Sander Toonen Amsterdam | All Rights Reserved
- All rights reserved - Copyright © Stephen Price
All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer
Used my bike to take a peak over the wall surrounding Battersea Power Station in London.
Designed by Sir Gilles Gilbert Scott in 1929-1939.
Use this image without my permission is illegal. All Rights Reserved ste.t.©
Se tu
non dovessi tornare da lei
ma potessi ancora restare
tra noi sembra sempre speciale
lo sai
se io
ti chiedessi di stare con me
nella notte più buia un momento io e te
soli senza rimpianto
oh yeah
io cercavo libertà
e adesso eccomi in ginocchio qui per te
forse sembro misera
ma fuori nevica e così
un bacio d'a(d)dio
solo un bacio d'a(d)dio
dato come si deve
che si perde in un attimo e poi non c'è più
un bacio d'a(d)dio
solo un bacio d'a(d)dio
bianco come la neve
che si scioglie in un attimo e poi non c'è più
da un po'
lascio tutto in sospeso con te
non mi chiedere di fare il salto perchè
sono il sogno di un altro
uh yeah
se io
ti chiedessi di stare con me
nella notte più bui un momento io e te
soli senza rimpianto
uo o yeah
io cercavo libertà
e adesso eccomi in ginocchio qui per te
forse sembro misera
ma fuori nevica e così
un bacio d'a(d)dio
solo un bacio d'a(d)dio
dato come si deve
che si perde in un attimo e poi non c'è più
un bacio d'a(d)dio
solo un bacio d'a(d)dio
bianco come la neve
che si scioglie in un attimo e poi non c'è più
love & happiness
a Milano non c'è il mare
e il reggae è in minore
un momento solo
un bacio d'a(d)dio
solo un bacio d'a(d)dio
dato come si deve
che si perde in un attimo e poi non c'è più
un bacio d'a(d)dio
solo un bacio d'a(d)dio
bianco come la neve
che si scioglie in un attimo e poi non c'è più
Nina Zilli
bacio d'a(d)dio
In use as a Mess Coach and Store for the staff re-painting the station at Barrow-In Furness, former BR Mark 1 First Open Coach W3012 (Built by BRCW to Lot 30008 in 1954), and transferred into the departmental fleet in the 1980's and renumbered DB975862, was stabled in the bay at the North end of the station on May 31st 1996. In faded yellow/grey Engineers livery, the well-worn coach had been modified with its corridor connections removed and plated over and most of the seats and tables removed. It was lettered 'QPV - CCE Staff Coach' and 'Allocated to Nottingham CS'.
Today a repaint of the station would require the use of around 10 car park spaces all cordoned off with security fencing, gates, masses of signage, an ex shipping container for all the equipment, a portable cabin for the staff amenities, a portable Toilet, a Generator, and a fleet of white vans.
Thurmaston use their thirteen MMCs on the 5/5A, which take them as far out as Melton Mowbray, so after a good thrash to Lutterworth in the morning, this trip proved to be an equally good run, with 4524 the bus concerned, and an excellent very heavy footed driver putting the bus through its paces once out on open roads. Certainly the best runs off MMCs I've had thus far.
Another plus earlier in the day was running into one of my last 'classic' E400s (4416) in South Wigston, quite lucky, and all in all a good days bashing. 12/12/16
MHV35 Southwark-Snow Hill (curtailed) 63
MHV46 Snow Hill-Swinton St (curtailed) 63
43083/043 St Pancras-Leicester
4508 Leicester CC-Blaby 84
4515 Blaby-Lutterworth 84
4520 Lutterworth-Blaby 84
4522 Blaby-Aylestone 85
4517 Aylestone-Blaby 84
4511 Blaby-South Wigston 85
4416 South Wigston-Raw Dyke Rd 48
4513 Raw Dyke Rd-St Margarets 84
4526 Haymarket-Thurmaston 5A
4523 Thurmaston-Syston 5
4524 Syston-Melton Mowbray 5A
4534 Melton Mowbray-Asfordby 5A
4531 Asfordby-Syston 5A
4528 Syston-Rushy Mead 5
4527 Rushy Mead-Haymarket 5A
43060/048 Leicester-St Pancras
Used for MSH0908-18 - Look at this photograph (everytime I do it makes me laugh) - and it does!
"It is fatal to let any dog know that he is funny, for he immediately loses his head and starts hamming it up. "– PG Wodehouse
This busker was drawing the crowds in Cambridge this morning with his dogs who howled along with him!
This image may not be used in any way without prior permission
© All rights reserved 2015
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Pearson International Airport CYYZ
C-GTKF
Kelowna Flightcraft
Boeing 727-200
21580
Twitter: @TomPodolec
Originally conceived by British Leyland, the Metro was built to similar principals as those of the Mini it was intended to replace, with a small, practical platform with as much use available to the passenger as was possible. The car came under various initial guises, including the Austin Metro, the Austin miniMetro, the Morris Metro van and the MG Metro, a version of the car with a 1.3L A-Series Turbo Engine.
Although the car was launched in 1980, development of a Mini replacement had dated back to the beginning of the 70's. Dubbed ADO88 (Amalgamated Drawing Office project number 88), the Metro was eventually given the go ahead in 1977, but wanted to have the appeal of some of the larger 'Supermini' (what a contradiction in terms) cars on the market, including cars such as the Ford Fiesta and the Renault 5. Designed by Harris Mann (the same guy who gave us the Princess and the Allegro), the car was given a much more angular body for the time, but despite its futuristic looks did share many features of the earlier Mini, including the 675cc BMC-A Series engine that dated back to 1959, and the gearbox. Initial cars also included the Hydragas Suspension system originally used on the Allegro and the Princess, though with no front/rear connection. The car was also built as a hatchback, which would eventually be a key part of its success as the Mini instead utilised only a small boot.
The Metro was originally meant for an earlier 1978 launch, but a lack of funds and near bankruptcy of British Leyland resulted in the car's launch being pushed back. This delay however did allow the folks at Longbridge to construct a £200m robotic assembly plant for the new Metro line, with the hope of building 100,000 cars per year. Finally the car entered sales 3 years late and got off to quite promising initial sales, often being credited for being the saviour of British Leyland. The Metro was in fact the company's first truly new model in nearly 5 years, with the 9 year old Allegro still in production, the 1980 Morris Ital being nothing more than a 7 year old Marina with a new face, and the 5 year old Princess not going anywhere!
As mentioned, an entire myriad of versions came with the Metro, including the luxury Vanden Plas version and the sporty MG with its top speed of 105mph and 0-60mph of 10.1 seconds. Eventually the original incarnation of the car, the Austin Metro, went on to sell 1 million units in it's initial 10 year run, making it the second highest selling car of the decade behind the Ford Escort. However, like most other British Leyland products, earlier cars got a bad reputation for poor build quality and unreliability, combined with the lack of rustproofing that was notorious on many BL cars of the time.
The show was not over however, as in 1990 the car was given a facelift and dubbed the Rover Metro. The 1950's A-Series engine was replaced by a 1.1L K-Series, and the angular bodyshell was rounded to similar principals as those by acclaimed styling house Ital to create a more pleasing look for the 90's. This facelift, combined with an improvement in reliability and build quality, meant that the car went on to win the 'What Car?' of the Year Award in 1991.
In 1994 the car was given yet another facelift, with once again a more rounded design and removal of the Metro name, the car being sold as the Rover 100. Engines were once again changed, this time to a 1.5L Peugeot engine and more audacious colour schemes were available for the even more rounded design of the new car. However, the car was very much starting to look and feel its age. Aside from the fact that the design dated back to 1977, the new car was not well equipped, lacking electric windows, anti-lock brakes, power steering, or even a rev counter! In terms of safety, it was very basic, with most features such as airbags, an alarm, an immobiliser and central locking being optional extras.
Eventually the curtain had to fall on the Metro, and in 1997, twenty years after the initial design left the drawing board, it was announced that the car would be discontinued. Spurred on by dwindling sales due to lack of safety and equipment, as well as losing out to comparative cars such as the ever popular Ford Fiesta, VW Polo and Vauxhall Corsa, with only fuel economy keeping the car afloat, Rover axed the Metro in 1998 with no direct replacement, although many cite the downsized Rover 200 a possible contender. Stumbling blindly on, the next car to fill the gap in Rover's market was the 2003 CityRover, based on the TATA Indica, which flopped abysmally and pretty much totalled the company (but that's another story).
In the end only 2,078,000 Metro's were built in comparison to the 5.3 million examples of the Mini that it was meant to replace. The main failings of the Metro were down to the fact that the car was too big compared to the Mini, and the rounded old-world charm of the Coopers and Clubmans was replaced by the angular corners. Because of this the car simply didn't have the novelty that the Mini continued to claim even 20 years after the first ones left the factory, and the Mini would even go on to outlive the Metro by another 2 years, ending production in 2000, then going on to have a revival in the form of BMW's New Mini Cooper that's still being built today. Unlike the Mini, the Metro also failed to conquer the international market in the same way, scoring its 2 million units pretty much in Britain alone, although some cars were sold in France and Spain, but only to the total of a few hundred.
The Metro however survived only on fuel economy and its spacious interior, but by the early 1990's, whilst other car manufacturers had moved on leaps and bounds, Rover continued to be stuck in the past with not the money or the enthusiasm to change what was a terribly outdated and extremely basic car. Towards the end the Metro, which had only a few years earlier won awards for its practical nature, was ending up on lists for Worst car on the market.
Today however you can still see Metro's, later editions are especially common on the roads of Britain. Earlier models built under British Leyland have mostly rusted away and are apparently only down to about a thousand nowadays, but the Rover 100's and Rover Metros continue to ply their trade, a lonely reminder of how here in Britain, we can never ever seem to move on!
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]
Used for the wedding of King Baudouin to Queen Fabiola in 1960
Chassis n° 5562377947
Zoute Sale - Bonhams
Estimated : € 70.000 - 90.000
Sold for € 86.250
Zoute Grand Prix 2021
Knokke - Zoute
België - Belgium
October 2021
Founded by Henry Leland and Robert Faulconer, the Cadillac Automobile Company of Detroit, Michigan completed its first car in October 1902, the firm's superior precision manufacturing technology soon establishing it as the foremost builder of quality cars in the USA. Cadillac was among the pioneers of the V8 engine and introduced the first synchromesh gearbox on its 1929 range. Always innovators in automobile technology, the company continues to produce cars recognised everywhere as symbols of wealth and prestige.
Styled like a contemporary jet fighter, the 1955 Cadillacs were little changed from '54 but featured a redesigned front grille, parking lights beneath the headlights and, of course, tail fins. General Motors' chief stylist Harley Earl had introduced fins on the 1948 Cadillacs and the device would reach its zenith in 1959 before fading away. All '55 Cadillacs came with a 331ci (5.4-litre) V8 engine producing 250bhp (standard trim) or 270bhp (Eldorado), plus GM's excellent Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. A landmark collectors' car, the 1955 Series 62 Convertible is one of the most sought after of post-WW2 Cadillacs.
Long, low and elegant, this wonderful Series 62 Convertible dates from the middle of Cadillac's spectacular 'fins' period. A classic Cadillac 'rag top', the car was first owned by the Belgian Royal Family, belonging to King Baudouin and his wife, Queen Fabiola. Ordered in 1953, it was delivered in 1954 and is a 1955 model. Serving as an official 'parade car' the car was delivered with some unique features including the split front bench, and the handle on the windscreen pillar. On 15th December 1960, the Cadillac served as the Royal couple's wedding car when they were married in Brussels, and over the years it participated in many more state occasions. It also served as the official 'parade' car of the City of Brussels for some 12 years. Newsreel footage showing the Cadillac participating in these various events may be found online, and it also comes with a substantial quantity of related press cuttings.
After it left official service, the Cadillac passed through the hands of various Belgian dealers before passing to an enthusiast. The current vendor bought the Cadillac in Luxembourg in 2012; he is a Cadillac enthusiast and collector, and this car has been regularly maintained as part of his Cadillac collection. The car was in need of restoration when acquired, and this was undertaken at great expense by specialists L'Atelier Des Coteaux in France, we are advised that the restoration totalled more than €50,000. The engine, mechanicals and electrics were overhauled and the interior completely re-trimmed, while the soft-top and carpets are new. Original and well-preserved, the body did not require any serious attention. A very rare feature, the 'Bubble top' or Plexiglas roof that was made to measure by Duchatelet from Liege by the end of the 1950's as requested by King Baudouin, was professionally restored to the specification it was in at the time of the royal wedding in 1960 and cost a small fortune to do. It should be noted that the Serie 62 has been adapted to also run on LPG, a modification that is easily reversible. The vendor advises us that the car is very reliable and that it will be driven to the auction in Knokke. A set of chromed wheel discs is included in the sale.
Offered with a French Carte Grise, this spectacular Cadillac Series 62 Convertible represents a unique opportunity to own a state car that served the Belgian Royal Family for many years, featuring prominently in the newsreels and press reports of the period.
For Use in Today's Blog Entry.. Fives/
1. One Digit / 5, 2. Hooked on fli..r, 3. One Digit / 5, 4. Almost blue, 5. Here lies number 5, 6. Cinco, 7. Cell 5, 8. 5 - delicatessen, 9. White 5 on Orange Dumpster, 10. guess where nyc, 11. 5, 12. give me, 13. Untitled, 14. Travel Bug #5, 15. Five, 16. five
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.
Made it to Explore on May 10th, 2006 #164-- hope these fabulous photographers got some views!
I had used another well placed half day of vacation to get over to St. Louis to shoot a High Iron Special and did a little exploring and familiarizing myself with the Lindenwood Yard and north end of the BNSF River Sub (STL to Memphis line). Although they have been around for a year or more, I finally had an opportunity to catch a CREX leading a BNSF train. While waiting for the special, BNSF brought north this empty Rush Tower coal train.
This is Watson Road in Shrewsbury, MO - old Route 66. The advertising harkens back to the days of the Frisco and this being a major highway. Amazingly, the message on the bridge still looks good. And "It" was shipped as this is an empty coal train heading north back to the mines in Wyoming.
05-29-2015
Por favor, no use esta imagen en su web, blogs u otros medios sin mi permiso explícito. © Todos los derechos reservados.
© Alejandro Cárdaba Rubio/2015
Tulum o Tuluum fue una ciudad amurallada de la cultura maya ubicada en el Estado de Quintana Roo, en el sureste de México, en la costa del mar Caribe. Es en la actualidad un gran atractivo turístico de la Riviera Maya y junto a ella se encuentra la moderna población del mismo nombre, Tulum. La ciudad maya se encuentra dentro del Parque Nacional Tulum.
En la foto el principal edificio de Tulum, conocido como "El Castillo".
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Tulum and Tulum was a walled city of the Mayan culture located in the state of Quintana Roo, in southeastern Mexico, in the Caribbean Sea coast. It is now a major tourist attraction in the Riviera Maya and beside it the modern town of the same name, Tulum. The Mayan city of Tulum is within National Park.
In the photo the main building of Tulum, known as "The Castle".
Más Información / More Information: es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulum
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Using the search tags Zebra and Mauritius you will find pages of photos but the modest and very shy Zebra eel (Gymnomuraena zebra) today makes a first flickr appearance, at least tagged with her name and Mauritius. I was happy I managed to get close and press the shutter before she made her getaway.