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
  ...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 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

SCMP Reporter

Block 36 of Shekkipmei Estate is not the common idea of paradise. The squat, unlovely, five-storey block was thrown up in panic four decades ago, to provide emergency homes for burned-out squatters. Over the years, the population dwindled and got older. When it closed last August because of a threatening land slip, 200 residents had to move out. Four out of five were single elderly folk.

 One of them was Cheng Shing, a 70-year-old retired factory worker. He didn't have much, but what he did possess, he treasured. Mostly, he enjoyed his friends, the aged cronies with whom he shared a bowl of noodles, endless gossip and the occasional game of checkers or pai kau.

 Cheng's world was 107 square feet of peeling concrete. That was his $400-a-month kingdom. When he lost it, he had little for which to live.

 He was going to be rehoused and officials had gone to considerable trouble to make sure the new home he picked at nearby Pak Tin Estate, in a block purpose-built for elderly, suited him.

 These snug, comfortable and well-planned units are run by a Housing Authority scheme aimed to provide self-contained homes for old folk, and to supervise a network that ensures their welfare.

 But for Cheng, the distance was too far from Block 36.

 When he learned he couldn't stay at Shekkipmei Estate, he walked across Pak Tin Street to Block 33, climbed to the seventh floor roof, and jumped.

 Two months after his death, they mourn him still in the narrow concrete alleys between the tenements and in the sitting-out area where septuagenarians laze on autumn afternoons to talk about favourite meals, impossible dreams and their children who have migrated to Canada.

 What was so precious about life in Block 36 that convinced Cheng that he couldn't live without it?  It was certainly not the ambience. Those unimaginative blocks were built frantically, thrown up urgently to provide basic accommodation. And basic it certainly was. Into those tiny concrete cubicles were squeezed entire families at the shoulder-to-shoulder rate of 35 square feet per person.

 And as the blocks went up across the flats and along the ridges of Shekkipmei, then on the fringe of settled Kowloon, people clamoured and clawed to get into them. They were not much. Shamefully, looking back from the vantage point of prosperity, they were the best we had.

 Shekkipmei, rose like a phoenix from the flames. On Christmas Day, 1953, a huge winter fire swept through the rough squalor of jumbled squatter huts that sprawled over every patch of undeveloped Kowloon. Next dawn, more than 50,000 squatters were homeless. Government response was to do anything that could provide a roof over as many heads as possible.

 The fire was the spark that started the public housing programme in which we now take such pride.

 Block 36, despite reliable maintenance over the past 45 years, remains recognisable to its earliest residents.

 It is functional. Three blocks - 36, 38 and 40 - were developed to house the elderly. Two of them were closed last August when the steep ridge on which they are built threatened to crumble.

 Today, resurfacing work continues and big boulders are solidly concreted into the cliff above the pretty but ramshackle temple to the Goddess of Mercy next to Block 36.

Song birds flit between the blocks to perch in orange trees, or peck fruit in papayas growing in stone tubs. Old folk, some well into their 80s, sit in the open air corridors to chat. A crippled old lady is helped from her wheelchair and is agonisingly half-pulled, half-carried up a flight of stairs by a middle-aged daughter.

 (Residents say the absence of lifts is the greatest burden for the ailing old folk in the blocks. I wish a clutch of social workers had been with me last week as I watched, ashamed and helpless, as that frail old lady tried to negotiate the stairs.)  A couple of blocks away are the boutique-lined avenues of North Kowloon where a pair of fashionable Italian shoes costs more than Cheng's rent for six months.

 But none of the residents are complaining. They love it in Shekkipmei. To some people, it would be hell to live there. For the old folk, it is, if not heaven, at least a haven.

 Nobody is responsible for Cheng's death. Everybody concerned acted properly, and in his best interests. The housing and public works authorities were quick to evacuate Block 36 when it was threatened by a slip. Quite right; imagine the outcry if they were tardy and old people were buried in a landslide.

 Social workers and relocation staff did their best to find suitable new homes for 400 aged residents. The need was urgent; old people had to be swiftly sheltered and rehoused.

 Their wishes and best interests were considered, as far as possible, in the rush to solve the problem. Most were found homes nearby. In almost all cases, the new accommodation was superior; it would be difficult not to have improved their housing lot.

 That help was not enough.

 For Cheng a move from his beloved Block 36 was unbearable torment. It was not merely his cramped, tiny room with the crouch toilet under the shower and the steel grate opening on to an open air corridor. It wasn't only the sights and sounds of the corner noodle shop and the shouts of children playing as they left nearby schools.

 No, for Cheng, it was the close circle of friends he had forged during his 15 years in Block 36.

 Young social workers are idealistic, enthused with a drive to make the world better for the less fortunate. It's laudable that they want to make the world a better place. They are highly trained at our tertiary institutions, have professional qualifications and a genuine calling.

 But are they sufficiently experienced in life?  Old people often have simple needs. For many, especially those without spouse or family, only three things really matter: health, friends and memories.

 These are paramount. Take away one, and little is left.

 When Cheng Shing had to leave Block 36, he lost the close pals with whom he had spent the last 15 years and he left behind many memories. What he had left was not enough.

 Nobody was at fault in his death. But, somehow, our society let him down.

Kevin Sinclair is a Hong Kong journalist 



Casualty of efficiency