bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Jason Y Ng

I work in the finance industry and I’m used to personnel turnover. Bankers, traders and lawyers hop from one bank to another every few years. While some leave on their own accord, others are pushed out because they don’t deliver. Before a co-worker announces a departure, I usually see it coming a mile away. The signs are always there for the taking. For instance, he suddenly keeps a low profile and reduces meetings and emails to a minimum. He is hardly at his desk any more – and when he is, he is organising files or on the phone with HR. He clears his vacation days and schedules dental works and physical checkups. Things that he used to care a great deal about, like headcount and budget, no longer seem to bother him. But he is careful about keeping up appearances: he smiles a lot, wears a suit a lot and says “let’s grab lunch some time” to people a lot.
If CY Leung worked on my floor, I would have said to myself, “Yep, he’ll be gone in three months. Six months tops". Since I first predicted his demise in my blog A Hundred Days of Solitude last October, Leung has been exhibiting every behavioural pattern I outlined in the preceding paragraph. Our Chief Executive has gone A.W.O.L., M.I.A. and A.F.K. For someone who loves the microphone and doesn’t skimp on words, Leung has been remarkably camera-shy. These days when we do see him – which is rare – he looks aloof, disengaged and defeated. He is a far cry from the zealous politician who ran on an Obamian “change” platform and defused every scandal with vigour and conviction. Three weeks ago when American whistle-blower Edward Snowden sought refuge in Hong Kong, it was his cabinet member Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and Security Secretary Lai Tung-kwok who faced the press. When a television reporter finally got through to Leung, he had this to say: “I already told you I have no comment. Listen, I’m busy with something at the moment.” Click. It wasn’t until after the fugitive fled the city that a stone-faced Leung crawled out of the hole and delivered a few rehearsed lines to the foreign press.
If there is one thing that Leung has learned from his predecessor Donald Tsang, it is that lavish foreign trips are the best part of the job. The idea is to milk the system as much as permissible and while you still can. And why not? There are no pestering reporters or screaming protestors on foreign soil, only presidential suites, Michelin-starred restaurants and door-to-door limousine service. Surely enough, Leung went on an official trip to New York last month, visiting the stock exchange and meeting Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg had no interest in talking to a Beijing mouthpiece who is soon to be out of a job, not to mention that the visit came in the midst of the Snowden manhunt. The mayor tried to back out but ultimately agreed to spend a half-hour with Leung in a hastily arranged meeting in a hotel room. It was a slap in the face. The old Leung would have gotten all worked up, but things like that don’t bother him any more. The only thought he had while listening to Bloomberg yap about China’s human rights record was: what other countries should I see before they take away my expense account?
As any departing employee would tell you, it is important to pretend it is business as usual until the very last day. You want to leave on good terms and you don’t need any drama in the office. Leung takes that advice to heart. Last week, days before his one-year anniversary of taking office, he emerged from hiding to meet the press with a 28-page report card highlighting his accomplishments. The whole song and dance was just to keep up the charade of course, but that didn’t stop him from throwing in everything and the kitchen sink, from pulling the plug on Mainland women giving birth in Hong Kong to limiting the exports of baby formula. He even took credit for averting the latest bird flu crisis! Sporting a forced smile, the Chief Executive concluded: “We achieved many things in a short time, but we won’t let that go to our heads”. Hearing that from someone who has broken every campaign promise and botched every policy initiative is laughable and borderline disturbing. The only thing that has gone to his head is self-delusion.
Self-delusion is what keeps Leung from jumping out of a Government House window. He is easily the loneliest person in the entire city. For starters, his biggest backer, Li Gang of the Liaison Office, has been exiled to Macau. After the CCP completed its leadership change last November, Beijing put a new sheriff in town and he is not a fan of Leung. That explains why the Chief Executive, who used to drop by the Liaison Office to say hello every now and then, has stopped going there altogether.  
But Leung’s house of cards continues to crumble. In May, Barry Cheung Chun-yuen suddenly resigned from the Executive Council (ExCo), the government’s core policy-making organ. It turned out that Cheung was implicated in a series of multi-billion dollar frauds designed to keep afloat his biggest investment, the Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange. Cheung’s resignation dealt a fatal blow to the administration, as he has been the architect behind many, if not all, of Leung’s economic policies. “Everybody knows that CY didn’t have a team when he took office,” former ExCo member and current Legco member James Tien Pei-chun told a reporter recently. Tien’s remark suggests that losing a right-hand man like Cheung has put the Chief Executive back to square one. Governance is a team sport and Leung ain’t got a team.
Watching it all from 30,000 feet, Beijing is not amused. It is widely believed that the Politburo has already switched to “Plan B” and begun building a dossier on Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to determine if she has what it takes to take over the job. Before its due diligence is complete and a replacement is secured, Beijing doesn't want anyone to make things worse than they already are. The Politburo is telling the leadership in Hong Kong what mothers say to their clumsy kids when they try to help in the kitchen: “Just don't touch anything and go play somewhere else!” That's why public consultation about election arrangements for 2017 has stalled, and that's why Leung has not put forward any of the social policies he seems to care about. Without marching orders from up north, all Leung can do is check Facebook and play Candy Crush in his corner office while collecting a HK$370,000 paycheck every month. But these cushy days can't and won't go on forever. With the 2017 deadline for universal suffrage fast approaching, Beijing needs to act swiftly and clean house before time runs out.
I said this eight months ago and I will say it again: Leung’s fall is more than a prediction – it is a foregone conclusion. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Leung stole the election from his opponent by accusing him of a crime he himself had committed. He was asked to step down before he was even sworn in. With each new poll, his approval rating drops to a new low. He was so unpopular that students at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) gave him the one-finger salute at their graduation ceremony last week. And if the tens of thousands of frustrated citizens who took to the streets during a typhoon yesterday is any indication, then the writing is on the wall. I don’t work on the same floor as the Chief Executive, but Carrie Lam does. I bet she is already measuring the windows for new curtains.


CY Leung: The chronicle of an end foretold

A student refuses to acknowledge Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying at an HKAPA graduation ceremony. Photo: Dickson Lee

Opinion

Blogs

I said this eight months ago and I will say it again: Leung’s downfall is more than a prediction – it is a foregone conclusion. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.


Leung Chun-ying (CY Leung)

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

As I see it

As I see it | CY Leung: The chronicle of an end foretold

I said this eight months ago and I will say it again: Leung’s downfall is more than a prediction – it is a foregone conclusion. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.