Latrobe Bridge - Open. The bridge is swung into this position when the steamers pass down to the Lakes or return to Sale.Black and white photograph of the Latrobe River Bridge over the Latrobe River, shows the bridge open to river traffic, with a good view of the supporting structure. Sale Victoriawaterways, bridges, civil engineering

Set of eight Black and White photographs of the major repairs to the roof of Z8 - c1980? done at Preston Workshops. .1 - the new section being craned into position - has a W class car in the background. .2 - internal view showing a support structure. .3 - external view with the support structure - possibly before the section of roof was removed. .4 - view of the inner roof? wit siring in position. .5 - ditto .6 - internal view of the roof section being removed or installed - shows the insulation. .7 - external view showing roof support structure in place ,8 - showing what appears to be the original roof being removed. This record will need some further research work, not possibly during COVID 19 issue. MMTB Photostrams, tramways, z class, repairs, preston workshops, tramcar construction, tram 8

Photo shows the interior roof support structure of the former cable tram Port Melbourne car house. Photo undated.Yields information about the appearance the former Port Melbourne cable tram car house. Colour print with notes on the rear.In ink on the rear - "Interior of the Port Melbourne tramshed in Beach Road, Compliments Jack Cranston"tramways, cable trams, car house, port melbourne depot, port melbourne

Set of two Colour slides Kodak, white cardboard of trams: .1 - an SW6 (route 42) car descending the Barkers Road hill through the cutting towards Victoria Bridge over the Yarra river, Has the Vickers Ruwolt factor in the background and the city skyline. .2 - SW6 893 (City Route 42), crossing the Victoria Bridge after leaving the Barkers Road cutting. Shows the overhead support structure on the bridge. Slide datedHand writing on rear in ink "14-6-60 - Retrieving a trolley pole Church St Hawthorn."trams, tramways, route 42, barkers road, sw6 class, bridges, victoria bridge, tram 893

The first photo shows the inspection pit built c1974 for the commissioning and maintenance of Z class trams at Preston Workshops. Photo taken prior to pouring a concrete floor and supporting structure. The second photo shows Z3 116 on the pit. This tram was delivered to the workshops during March 1979 and commissioned in Sept. 1979. Photos by Norm Cross.Yields information about the construction and use of an inspection pit at Preston Workshops.Colour print on Kodak paper. - set of 2trams, tramways, preston workshops, tramcar inspection, z3 class, tram 116

Black and White photograph. The photo shows large procession heading north up Pall Mall. On RH side of image: Law Courts, Union Jack flag flying overhead. Conservatory Gardens just visible, picket fence along footpath. In centre of image: procession with horse drawn floats; float in front of image has large ball above an ornate supporting structure. Written on side of ball ' Gold .tained…' (gold contained?) On LH side of image, 'Harry Davey’ and 'F. Davey' written on shop fronts. All shops along Pall Mall have verandahs. Many people are sitting on balconies and rooftops watching the parade.bendigo, streetscape, pall mall

The white painted cast iron gates are at the front entrance to St. Andrews Uniting Church and front onto the former Stawell Street in Sunbury. They were originally manufactured at the H.V.McKay Harvester Works in Sunshine. Over the years the gates fell into disrepair and were eventually restored and reinstalled at the original site.The church gates are of historical importance in Sunbury as a result of H.V.McKay's connection with the former Presbyterian Church. He is buried in the Sunbury Cemetery and also lived at Rupertswood from 1923 until his death in 1926.A coloured photograph of red brick church and the double cast iron gates, flanked by a single gate on each side at the front entrance. Four bluestone gate posts support the entire structure.st. andrews uniting church, main gates, stawell street, sunbury, h.v. mckay

This framed sketch details, in graphic form, where the core samples in the display cabinet were removed. The drilling was a precursor to the decision where to locate, in this case, the McKay Creek Power Station. The information gained by structural engineers from the core samples would be used also for the placements of underground tunnels entry and exit points and the overall effective size of the plant. This would have included drill and blast techniques(rock characteristics play an import part of explosion control), requirements for support structures and reinforcing cement/steel forms. The use and replenishment of diamond drill bits(the strongest available, see KVHS 0280) was dependent on the "type" of rock found. Support beams for reinforced ceilings and floors was also a necessity.The visual derails of where the rock core samples were removed is very significant in the formulation and placement of the underground Power Stations and their maze of tunnels(in and out) for a successful implementation of the Hydro Scheme. The amount of pre-planning and scientific studies required for such a large scheme must be undertaken to ensure that a "white elephant" was not the result.This framed and glass front rock core display sketch has type written information of the rock samples displayed in KVHS 0279 (A). It has a softwood stained and glossed frame with a fixed(nailed) back board and a brass fixture for mounting onto a wall.The paper and type are slighted faded (sunlight affected). The sign heading "ROCK CORE SAMPLES RECOVERED FROM DIAMOND DRILLED BORE" underneath this "BORE NO: 883" and below this "LOCATION: McKAY CREEK POWER STATION AREA" to the left a sketch incorporating the ground level point "GROUND LEVEL R.L.3493", and the core depth point "CORE DEPTH 40' 7". In between and representing( in visual form) the core location areain question.alternate energy supplies, alpine feasibility studies temperature, rainfall, sec, kiewa hydro scheme, electricity

Photo album, cover has blue cover, maroon spine, spine disconnected from pages. 'Album' on front. Sepia photograph stuck inside front cover of album. Image shows large procession heading north up Pall Mall. On RH side of image: Law Courts, Union Jack flag flying overhead. Conservatory Gardens just visible, palm trees not evident, picket fence along footpath. In centre of image: procession with horse drawn floats; float in front of image has large gold coloured ball above an ornate supporting structure. Written on side of ball ' Gold .tained…' (gold contained?) On LH side of image, 'Harry Davey’ and 'F. Davey' written on shop fronts. All shops along Pall Mall have verandahs. Many people are sitting on balconies and rooftops watching the parade. Appears to be approx. 1890’s?bendigo, streetscape, pall mall, bendigo, sandhurst, procession, gold, post office, pall mall

The core samples in the display cabinet were obtained from the various sites at which drilling into the rock surface was carried out (under the control of design and structural engineers of the SEC Kiewa Hydro Scheme - late 1940's). This function was a precursor to the decision where to locate, in this case, the McKay Creek Power Station. The information gained by structural engineers from the core samples would be used also for the placements of underground tunnels entry and exit points and the overall effective size of the generator plant. This would have included drill and blast techniques (rock characteristics play an import part of explosion control), requirements for support structures and reinforcing cement/steel forms. The use and replenishment of diamond drill bits(the strongest available, see KVHS 0280) was dependent on the "type" of rock found (harder rock required greater numbers of drill bits). Support beams for reinforced ceilings and floors was also a necessity.These rock core samples are very significant in the formulation and placement of the underground Power Stations and their maze of tunnels (in and out) for a successful implementation of the Hydro Scheme. The amount of pre-planning and engineering studies required for such a large scheme must be undertaken to ensure that a "white elephant" was not the result.There are nine columns of rock cores, each 30mm in diameter, set in a wooden display rack. A clear plastic (slide out) protective panel is installed to the front section. Within each column are block details of the depth from which that section was brought from. See KVHS for the appropriate sketch details.Depth levels (retrieved from) are shown for each section on wooden Blocks: 1st Block: "7'10" (seven feet, ten inches), 2nd Block:"9'4" (nine feet, four inches), 3rd Block: "19'3" (nineteen feet, three inches), 4th Block: "24'2" (twenty four feet, two inches), 5th Block: "25'7"( twenty five feet, seven inches) and last block: "30' (thirty feet)"alternate energy supplies, alpine feasibility studies temperature, rainfall, sec, kiewa hydro scheme, electricity

MEYER COLLECTION - FALLS CREEK PHOTOS In 1947 a determined group of like-minded State Electricity Commission (SEC) staff including Ray Meyer, the chief surveyor of the Kiewa Hydro-Electric Scheme, had a common interest that revolved around the skiing potential of the snow-covered high plains which included what is now the resort of Falls Creek. The six SEC employees, Toni St Elmo, Ray Meyer, Jack Minogue, Lloyd Dunn, Adrian Ruffenacht and Dave Gibson (together with their families) banded together to secretly build a 'hut' that was the first ski lodge at Falls Creek. Using a road built in 1930s to gain access to Falls Creek, their hut project was carried out in secret as efforts by other skiers were blocked by H.H.C. Williams – the engineer in charge of the Hydro Scheme. In 1946 Ray Meyer made a trip to the Lands Office in Melbourne. He came away with a 99-year lease on three acres that was ideally suited for a hut designed by Lloyd Dunn. Adrian Ruffenacht (Design Engineer for the KHS) had suggested where the group should build because of easy access to a spring for water. Much of the building material required was scavenged from derelict huts on the high plains. Due to the need for secrecy, the determined group worked on the hut in the evenings and weekends to avoid detection. During the building period the group had met at Echidna Rock (now known as Eagle Rock) where Skippy St Elmo announced, "This is my favourite ‘Skyline’.” And so the first lodge in the area at Falls Creek Ski Resort came into existence. With the development of the International Poma in the 1970s, the Skyline Lodge, which was sited between the ski-lift’s pole one and pole two, was demolished. However, the legacy of Ray Meyer, Toni St Elmo, Jack Minogue, Lloyd Dunn, Adrian Ruffenacht and Dave Gibson and Skyline lives on in the vibrant atmosphere of Falls Creek Resort. The MEYER COLLECTION documents developments on the Kiewa Hydro Scheme and their life at Falls Creek from the mid 1930s to 1960s.This image is significant because it depicts aspects of the life of a pioneering family of Falls Creek and the founders of "Skyline", the first lodge at Falls Creek.Images of Skyline Lodge. Photo One shows seven feet of snow piled on the roof. This would have been the equivalent of approximately 70 tons in weight being supported by the roof structure.falls creek, victorian snowfields, skyline lodge

Set of two newspaper cuttings regarding the first cable tram set in Melbourne. .1 - Original cutting and copy with a photo of the cable tram set 1 still operating in Melbourne - undated, notes it has been in daily use for 40 years - c1925. Has a photo of the tram showing its different support structure on the grip car. The cutting has been glued to a piece of scrap of paper which has handwriting on both sides in ink . A copy of the cutting has been trimmed in the corners. .2 - Cutting from a unknown Melbourne Newspaper - titled "First Cable Tram for Museum", reporting that cable car set 1 has been donated to the Melbourne Museum by the MMTB. Quotes the Chairman Mr. Bell. Noted that the car set was running on the Bourke St line. Cutting costs. 1940. Photo in cutting not of the cable car set itself. A short report appears in The Argus 29/11/1940, page 3, accessed 16-11-2016, that the cable car set was taken to the Museum of Victoria the previous day.trams, tramways, cable trams, museum, closure, donations, tram 1

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born on 2 August 1901. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia.Black and white photo of a man dressed in a three piece suit and hat, leaning against a stone architectural feature high above the surrounding countryside. The foreground is concreted and on the far left is part of what appears to be a metal support for another structure. The background is hazy, but appears to be part of a town below. The man is Frank Wright.frank wright, conductor

A young Kalypso Raftopoulos is pictured on the LHS of the photograph. The photograph was taken in Kioni, Ithaca the village where Kalypso grew up in. Kaypso migrated to Melbourne in 1936. A scanned sepia photograph of a lady holding a young child with a young girl on the LHS of the picture. There is a partial view of a stone cottage behind the group and a rough wooden structure which supports grape vines is also behind them.

Photo shows the Malvern depot staff, in uniform standing in front of one single trucker and three bogie cars in front of the original Malvern Depot building. There are some 64 men in dark jackets and 32 in khaki or light jackets. The trams have the destinations of Windsor, Esplanade, Mont Albert and Bourke Road. Note the structure supporting the overhead for roller door connection and the roller door enclosure.Yields information about the Malvern depot traffic staff in 1916 and their uniforms.Black and white photo with notes on the front and rear, mounted onto heavy brown card.tramways, tramcars, traffic congestion, collins st, tram 649, tram 268, tram 276

Digital scanFrom Vicrail News magazine, April 1983. “Duplication of the five-kilometre section of line between Ringwood and Croydon is on the way. Several major works will be undertaken over the next few months so the two tracks can be brought into service later this year. Intensive work on this section follows completion of duplication works between Ringwood and Bayswater on the Belgrave line last December. The completion of this 5.17 kilometre section between Ringwood and Bayswater means that this Belgrave line is now duplicated as far out as Ferntree Gully. Commuters using the Belgrave line now have an improved service with the intro duction in January of an additional evening peak train to Upper Ferntree Gully, two additional peak hour services in the morning from both Belgrave and Upper Ferntree Gully, and with the additional tracks delays on one line will not affect trains travelling in the opposite direction. Commenting on the completion of this stretch of track the Minister of Transport, Mr. Crabb, said a further improvement had been made with the commissioning of boom barriers at the Bedford Road level crossing in Ringwood. "The installation is part of the State Government's $9.4 million four-year plan to equip 70 dangerous level crossings throughout the State with boom barriers", he said. Works to be carried out on the Ringwood/ Croydon section include laying of new track, station works at Croydon and installation of boom barriers at East Ringwood. Already completed are bridge works to cater for double tracks at both Mt. Dandenong and Eastfield Roads between Croydon and East Ringwood and construction of an island platform at East Ringwood station. At several locations alignment of the existing track will be slightly relocated. The new line is being constructed with concrete sleepers and heavyweight rails. The existing line will also be reconstructed using these heavy 60kg per metre rails. Engineering works to be completed include installation of overhead wiring necessary to supply power to trains, construction of two new station buildings and a new platform at Croydon, provision of boom barriers, and pedestrian boom barriers at Dublin Road level crossing. East Ringwood, and replacement of existing timber overhead wire support structures with steel structures. Other works in this program included installation of boom barriers at Bedford Road, Ringwood and Scoresby Road, Bayswater and provision of a new platform for trains going to Melbourne and Heathmont. A new timetable on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines will commence when the Ringwood—Croydon duplication track work is completed.”

Used in the tobacco industry. Handmade.Wooden and steel structure with a wooden plank along the ground. One end has 2 vertical planks attached on either side. Supported by steel diagonal rods. A steel chain is attached pole platform, tobacco industry

R.S.L. is the Returned and Services League of Australia, a member based charity founded in 1916, and the largest veterans' charity in Australia. It provides a support network and community for veterans and their families. They have a commemorative service each year on 25th April, ANZAC Day.The Mt Beauty RSL committee members in 1949 is a list of people living in Mt Beauty at the time and who were working as a support team for veterans and their families. The ANZAC crowd at the temporary memorial indicate the interest in the town for a commemoration and the need for a more permanent structure.Both Black & White large photos. 1. Group of men - Mt Beauty R.S.L. Committee with names on reverse. 2. Anzac Day at Mt Beauty. Early 1950s. People including school children, gathered around a temporary war memorial structure near the current (2023) roundabout. In the background is the main workshop. The Tail race channel hasn't been constructed. On the back in pen of RSL photo: Mt Beauty R S L Committee 1949 -50 / Standing Fred De Little, Roy Cobby, WaJ. Jones/ Joe Lang, Ian Bennett, Stan Leanard, Ted White/ Seated / Harry Edney, Jack Chapman (Tres), Harold Boon (Pres), R Webster (Sec), /Joe Breen returned services league, anzac day, rsl 1949

This black bodice likely belonged to Ellen Dowsett (1858-1953) of Maidstone, Victoria, or her daughter Ruby May Selina Wallace (1891-1973). It was donated by an Emerald resident who received it from Ruby. Sleeved whalebone bodices of this style were fashionable in the first decade of the twentieth century. If it belonged to Ruby - the most likely owner - she likely wore it towards the end of that decade and in the early 1910s, when it was a fashionable piece for a young woman. It appears some internal handsewn repairs have been made, ensuring greater longevity for the outfit.This bodice is a very elaborate and interesting example of 1900s fashion.This black bodice is adorned with elaborate patterns sewn into the lace that decorates the front, back and sleeves of the item. Its interior is lined with a lighter fabric and supported by several whalebones, providing structure to the bodice. The outside appears unstructured with deflated sleeves and a gathered front. While modern clothes sizes do not map accurately onto those of the past, today it would be considered about a size 10 or 11.N/Aclothing, 1890s

The log winch is a rare and unusual item of considerable interest in the context of the Echuca and Murray River Red Gum industry The winch is of historical significance for its association with the Evans Sawmill from early to mid-twentieth century, It helps demonstrate the role of the industry in the exploitation of the Murray River red gum timber, the process of converting the forests to a saleable commodity and the relationship between the industry the river Echuca township and the transport facilities of the wharf, paddlesteamers and the railway,The log winch is a rare and unusual item of considerable interest in the context of the Echuca and Murray River Red Gum industry, and the transport industry of Victoria,The structure is composed of red gum timber with four main posts with diagonal braces supporting a cog system and winch cable on the drive shaft at the top of the structure There is a platform on one side of the structure to enable the operator to reach the operating levers. There was also a rod control to regulate the winch engine and boiler.

This shows the typical building structures of the time period. As the population grows in the area the need for a community meeting place becomes a requirement for the community. Local community rely on each other for company, support and social engagements.This building demonstrats the needs of the local community and the population in and around Streatham in 1888.Square picture in black and white showing the Streatham Hall. The picture is a shot of the front of a single storey weatherboard building with two doorways and one window in view. There is a picket fence running across the front of the building,Back: Stamped in green ink "317"building, rural, streatham, structures, areas, materials

This photograph is believed to have been taken at the Bosisto's distillery on Woori Yallock Creek at what is now Butterfield Reserve, Emerald. Chemist and later parliamentarian Joseph Bosisto (1824-98) established a number of distilleries in the area through the 1860s and 70s; the Butterfield Reserve still is believed to have been established in 1876. This photo may have been taken around 1916, when Australia was still the world's leading supplier of eucalyptus oil - by this time a globally popular product. By the 1920s, Joby Brady and his son were running the distillery business.Bosisto's eucalyptus distillery was an early Emerald industry with global significance; eucalyptus oil was believed to be the first distinctively Australian product exported overseas. This photograph is a very clear representation of the industry - to the extent that it is even used repeatedly in Euca's webpages discussing the history of the industry.Captured in black and white, a working eucalyptus distillery processes large quantities of eucalyptus leaves into eucalyptus oil. Two men stand holding tools, one under the tin roof of the distillery and another on a horsecart carrying a new pile of leaves. Another stands behind the distillery, carrying more leaves. The largest pile of leaves is in front of the still. The still is sheltered by a tin roofed structure with open walls, wooden support beams, and a chimney in the background. Further in the background, trees can be barely seen. This photograph is a scanned copy, glossy on the obverse and with normal paper texture and handwritten notes on the reverse.Reverse: "Distilling Eucalyptus / Bosistoes. Woori Yallock creek Emerald / or Clematis. 1916? / Joby Brady carried on Bosistoes during 1920s / with his son on Woori Yallock Creek"emerald, native plants, 1910s

Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, had plenty of political support in the territory’s pro-Beijing legislature to pass a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China. The legislators were set to begin discussing the bill in early June, and intended to vote on it just weeks later. A series of protests took place, and after a June 16 protest saw the largest turnout yet, Ms. Lam made a major concession: She postponed the bill, at least temporarily. It was an undeniable victory for the protesters — but it did little to quell the unrest. Since the bill could later be reintroduced, protesters felt they remained in danger. The police tactics to break up the demonstrations on June 12, including the use of more than 150 tear gas canisters to push protesters far away from the government office, created a new set of demands from the protesters. Now, instead of just calling for the withdrawal of the bill and Ms. Lam’s resignation, they said they wouldn’t be content unless there was an independent investigation of officers’ conduct. They also wanted the release of protesters arrested on June 12, and for the government to rescind its description of the demonstrations as a “riot,” a designation that carries legal significance. None of that has happened. Many analysts say Ms. Lam is unlikely to step down, nor would Beijing accept her resignation if she offered it. She has more wiggle room on the other demands, but has not indicated any willingness to budge. The Hong Kong Protests are a leaderless, digital movement.There is no single leader or group deciding on or steering the strategy, tactics and goals of the movement. Instead, protesters have used forums and messaging apps to decide next steps. Anyone can suggest a course of action, and others then vote on whether they support it. The most popular ideas rise to the top, and then people rally to make them happen. At its best, this structure has empowered many people to participate and have their voices heard. Protesters say it keeps them all safe by not allowing the government to target specific leaders. Their success in halting the extradition bill, which was shelved by the territory’s chief executive, speaks to the movement’s power. Despite the lack of a clear leader, protesters have shown extensive coordination at the demonstrations, having planned the specifics online beforehand. Supply stations are set up to distribute water, snacks, gloves, umbrellas and shields made of cardboard. Volunteer first aid workers wear brightly colored vests. People form assembly lines to pass supplies across long distances, with protesters communicating what they need through a series of predetermined hand signals. Anyone walking in dangerous areas without a helmet or a mask is quickly offered one. No individual can speak on behalf of the protesters, which makes negotiations difficult, if not impossible. (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/world/asia/hong-kong-protest-explained.html, accessed 07/07/2019) Hong Kong’s amended extradition law would allow the extradition of suspects to mainland China for the first time. Supporters say the amendments are key to ensuring the city does not become a criminal refuge, but critics worry Beijing will use the law to extradite political opponents and others to China where their legal protections cannot be guaranteed. The government claims the push to change the law, which would also apply to Taiwan and Macau, stems from the killing last year of a Hong Kong woman while she was in Taiwan with her boyfriend. Authorities in Taiwan suspect the woman’s boyfriend, who remains in Hong Kong, but cannot try him because no extradition agreement is in place. Under the amended law, those accused of offences punishable by seven years or more in prison could be extradited. The new legislation would give Hong Kong’s leader, known as the chief executive, authority to approve extradition requests, after review by the courts. Hong Kong’s legislature, the legislative council, would not have any oversight over the extradition process. Many Hong Kongers fear the proposed extradition law will be used by authorities to target political enemies. They worry the new legislation spells the end of the “one country, two systems” policy, eroding the civil rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents since the handover of sovereignty from the UK to China in 1997. Many attending the protests on Sunday said they could not trust China as it had often used non-political crimes to target government critics, and said they also feared Hong Kong officials would not be able to reject Beijing’s requests. Legal professionals have also expressed concern over the rights of those sent across the border to be tried. The conviction rate in Chinese courts is as high as 99%. Arbitrary detentions, torture and denial of legal representation of one’s choosing are also common. Many in the protests on Sunday 09 June 2019 said they felt overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness in the face of mainland China’s increasing political, economic and cultural influence in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s top political leader is not elected by ordinary voters but by a 1,200-strong election committee accountable to Beijing. Half of its legislature are chosen through indirect electoral systems that favour pro-Beijing figures. Many Hong Kongers also cited the jailing of leaders and activists from the 2014 Occupy Central movement– a 79-day mass civil disobedience movement – as well as the disqualification of young localist lawmakers as signs of the erosion of civil freedoms. Resentment towards China has been intensified by soaring property prices – with increasing numbers of mainland Chinese buying properties in the city – as well as the government’s “patriotic education” drive, and the large numbers of mainland tourists who flock to Hong Kong. Many Hong Kongers are also concerned about China’s growing control over the city’s news media, as they increasingly self-censor and follow Beijing’s tacit orders. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/10/what-are-the-hong-kong-protests-about-explainerPhotograph of a street art poster taken on the streets of Hong Kong during the protests against legislation to allow Hong Kong suspects to be extradited to mainland Chinese carrie lam, hong kong protests, extraditions, poster art, posters

Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, had plenty of political support in the territory’s pro-Beijing legislature to pass a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China. The legislators were set to begin discussing the bill in early June, and intended to vote on it just weeks later. A series of protests took place, and after a June 16 protest saw the largest turnout yet, Ms. Lam made a major concession: She postponed the bill, at least temporarily. It was an undeniable victory for the protesters — but it did little to quell the unrest. Since the bill could later be reintroduced, protesters felt they remained in danger. The police tactics to break up the demonstrations on June 12, including the use of more than 150 tear gas canisters to push protesters far away from the government office, created a new set of demands from the protesters. Now, instead of just calling for the withdrawal of the bill and Ms. Lam’s resignation, they said they wouldn’t be content unless there was an independent investigation of officers’ conduct. They also wanted the release of protesters arrested on June 12, and for the government to rescind its description of the demonstrations as a “riot,” a designation that carries legal significance. None of that has happened. Many analysts say Ms. Lam is unlikely to step down, nor would Beijing accept her resignation if she offered it. She has more wiggle room on the other demands, but has not indicated any willingness to budge. The Hong Kong Protests are a leaderless, digital movement.There is no single leader or group deciding on or steering the strategy, tactics and goals of the movement. Instead, protesters have used forums and messaging apps to decide next steps. Anyone can suggest a course of action, and others then vote on whether they support it. The most popular ideas rise to the top, and then people rally to make them happen. At its best, this structure has empowered many people to participate and have their voices heard. Protesters say it keeps them all safe by not allowing the government to target specific leaders. Their success in halting the extradition bill, which was shelved by the territory’s chief executive, speaks to the movement’s power. Despite the lack of a clear leader, protesters have shown extensive coordination at the demonstrations, having planned the specifics online beforehand. Supply stations are set up to distribute water, snacks, gloves, umbrellas and shields made of cardboard. Volunteer first aid workers wear brightly colored vests. People form assembly lines to pass supplies across long distances, with protesters communicating what they need through a series of predetermined hand signals. Anyone walking in dangerous areas without a helmet or a mask is quickly offered one. No individual can speak on behalf of the protesters, which makes negotiations difficult, if not impossible. (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/world/asia/hong-kong-protest-explained.html, accessed 07/07/2019) Hong Kong’s amended extradition law would allow the extradition of suspects to mainland China for the first time. Supporters say the amendments are key to ensuring the city does not become a criminal refuge, but critics worry Beijing will use the law to extradite political opponents and others to China where their legal protections cannot be guaranteed. The government claims the push to change the law, which would also apply to Taiwan and Macau, stems from the killing last year of a Hong Kong woman while she was in Taiwan with her boyfriend. Authorities in Taiwan suspect the woman’s boyfriend, who remains in Hong Kong, but cannot try him because no extradition agreement is in place. Under the amended law, those accused of offences punishable by seven years or more in prison could be extradited. The new legislation would give Hong Kong’s leader, known as the chief executive, authority to approve extradition requests, after review by the courts. Hong Kong’s legislature, the legislative council, would not have any oversight over the extradition process. Many Hong Kongers fear the proposed extradition law will be used by authorities to target political enemies. They worry the new legislation spells the end of the “one country, two systems” policy, eroding the civil rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents since the handover of sovereignty from the UK to China in 1997. Many attending the protests on Sunday said they could not trust China as it had often used non-political crimes to target government critics, and said they also feared Hong Kong officials would not be able to reject Beijing’s requests. Legal professionals have also expressed concern over the rights of those sent across the border to be tried. The conviction rate in Chinese courts is as high as 99%. Arbitrary detentions, torture and denial of legal representation of one’s choosing are also common. Many in the protests on Sunday 09 June 2019 said they felt overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness in the face of mainland China’s increasing political, economic and cultural influence in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s top political leader is not elected by ordinary voters but by a 1,200-strong election committee accountable to Beijing. Half of its legislature are chosen through indirect electoral systems that favour pro-Beijing figures. Many Hong Kongers also cited the jailing of leaders and activists from the 2014 Occupy Central movement– a 79-day mass civil disobedience movement – as well as the disqualification of young localist lawmakers as signs of the erosion of civil freedoms. Resentment towards China has been intensified by soaring property prices – with increasing numbers of mainland Chinese buying properties in the city – as well as the government’s “patriotic education” drive, and the large numbers of mainland tourists who flock to Hong Kong. Many Hong Kongers are also concerned about China’s growing control over the city’s news media, as they increasingly self-censor and follow Beijing’s tacit orders. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/10/what-are-the-hong-kong-protests-about-explainerMore than a thousand protestors surround Hong Kong's main police headquarters on Arsenal Street in Wan Chai on June 26th following a peaceful rally at Edinburgh Place in Central. Doors to the complex were barricaded by protestors, who left after a six hour siege in protest at police violence at a prtest held earlier on 12 June 2019. Protesters ended a six-hour siege of Hong Kong’s police headquarters – their second in a week over the now-suspended extradition bill – early on Thursday morning. More than 1,000 were involved at the height of the protest, which began after 10pm on Wednesday. Around 100 were left at the end and dispersed without a fight when officers with riot shields emerged from the building in Wan Chai at 4am on Thursday. After a peaceful rally attended by thousands earlier at Edinburgh Place in the Central business district, hundreds descended on Arsenal Street, blocking the junction with Lockhart Road to all traffic and sealing the entrances to the police base. (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3016238/hong-kong-police-under-siege-again-protesters-surround )carrie lam, hong kong protests, extraditions, protest, protestors