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

Letters

Avoid illegal occupation of Central
I urge all moderate supporters of universal suffrage in Hong Kong to use common sense and not to take part in the so-called referendum scheduled to take place between June 20 and 22, or in the illegal occupation of Central, which may subsequently take place.
To participate in the referendum will only give the Occupy Central movement an excuse to claim legitimacy for the exercise, which is flawed, as the three options proposed, which all include the "public nomination" demand, resulted from radicals hijacking the Occupy Central "deliberation day".
Public nomination is clearly a non-starter, as has been recently explained by the central and Hong Kong governments. Hong Kong should be concentrating, instead, on the nomination committee to get the best possible deal for democracy in the future. I therefore urge Hong Kong people to ignore the referendum in the hope that by so doing the Occupy Central movement will go away.
As regards the illegal occupation of Central, I hope that all sensible Hong Kong people who may be minded to take part in this activity, and thus to break the law, will read the article by the secretary for security, Lai Tung-kwok ("Cause and effect", June 12), which I fully support. Law-breakers beware!
Consider, in particular, the likelihood of the occupation getting out of hand, fuelled by a few activists, leading to injuries or even deaths and damage to property, beyond the control of the organisers, and the possibility of our police force being overwhelmed, resulting in the need to call in the People's Liberation Army to restore order.
John Shannon, Mid-levels
 
HK's decline reflects lack of innovation
Lately, there have been a lot of media reports pointing to the decline of Hong Kong's competitiveness regionally and globally. Hong Kong does not lack financial capital or talent. So what is our problem?
Growing up in the 1950s in working-class Wan Chai, I witnessed the birth of a unique social subculture. Makeshift sewing factories housed in tin sheds were a common sight. Young girls and housewives would sit around dining tables assembling plastic flowers, wigs and even oil paintings.
The Hong Kong entrepreneurial spirit and flexibility represented a brand admired by foreigners, and this was the case from the 1950s right up to the early 1970s. There was an endless supply of unskilled labour capable of making whatever adjustments were necessary to earn a living. Trading dominated the Hong Kong economy when I was a child.
If our government and the business community had foreseen the paradigm shift and had the wisdom to invest and nurture a multifaceted workforce, rather than concentrating on financial services and banking, we would stand a chance of staying ahead of the game today in a world that is service-centric and driven by creation and innovation.
One possible measure that has been suggested in the past is to adopt a system of tax breaks for start-ups as an important inducer to developing new enterprises. Might I add that the government and the private sector should consider establishing a dollar-matching programme to invest in our young men and women who have talent and ideas for new firms or projects.
Philip S. K. Leung, Pok Fu Lam
 
Self-interest lies at rotten heart of Fifa
Undiluted self-interest was evident when Fifa delegates at the 64th congress now being held in Sao Paulo voted overwhelmingly to crush moves to follow the lead of the International Olympic Committee and introduce term and age limits for Fifa officials.
Fifa's 78-year-old chief Sepp Blatter seems to want to stand for a fifth term because his mission is not yet accomplished. ("The final frontier is not beyond Fifa: Blatter", June 12).
When Blatter refers to "our basic values of football of discipline, respect and fair play", he already appears to be from another planet, as this does not equate with the general view of Fifa. I refer to "Racist forces are trying to destroy Fifa, says Blatter" (June 11). It is not racism that will destroy Fifa but corruption. Fifa's main concern is the welfare of its own delegates.
Many fans would love to see Fifa depart for Mars. Then perhaps the world's most popular sport could be properly administered by professionals for the people that really matter - the fans, the players, the clubs and the referees.
Christian Rogers, Wan Chai
 
Students need immersion, not NETs
Vaughan Rapatahana argues against insisting on native-speaking English teachers ("Time to retire the native English teacher scheme," June 11). I agree, for several reasons Mr Rapatahana does not mention.
First, a great deal of research shows that progress in English is the result of how much interesting and comprehensible English students hear and read. A small percentage of this comes from teachers these days, thanks to the availability of electronic media, and, most importantly, interesting reading material.
Second, we want our students to be autonomous, to be able to continue to improve on their own after they finish the English programme. This requires that students learn about how language is acquired.
Local teachers who can help students find comprehensible and interesting listening and reading material, and who can teach them about the process of second language acquisition are far preferable to native speakers whose only advantage is an accent.
Stephen Krashen, Professor Emeritus, University of Southern California
 
Is Beijing a tiger or a dolphin dad?
Sonny Lo ("Father knows best", June 13) uses the word "authoritative" to describe the nature of China's fatherly status towards Hong Kong. This implies a trustworthiness and self-confidence that leads people to respect and obey that familial figurehead.
However, "authoritarian" might describe many Hongkongers' view of China's paternal approach, implying a demand for unquestioning obedience at the expense of individual freedom.
It may be the difference in meaning between the two words that divides the two sides of the argument and determines the rival camps' judgment of the fatherland's intentions.
Chris White, Sheung Wan
 
Democrats are failing constituents
I refer to "Unpatriotic chief 'could pose a threat to sovereignty' " (June 11). After reading the State Council's white paper on Hong Kong, Democratic Party leader Emily Lau Wai-hing is correct to now be more pessimistic about our progress towards democracy.
As a democrat, I am thoroughly disappointed in how our pan-democrats, particularly the Democratic Party and the Civic Party, have frittered away the consultation time on public nomination when this has obviously always been a non-starter.
Most democrats in Hong Kong do not want a stand-off with mainland authorities. These political parties are not serving their constituents' interests.
The quest should have been to ensure that the nomination committee is widely representative of democratic interests, rather than the usual vested interests, so that a reasonable choice of candidates could be offered.
It is now in black and white that loving the country and Hong Kong is a basic political requirement, but this is a patriotic red herring. It appears the mainland authorities will decide, and their view point will probably equate to loving the Communist Party. Whereas only an individual actually knows if they love their country.
Under the rule of law, the way to handle this is for anyone who wants to participate to swear an oath.
Charlie Chan, Mid-levels
 
Conformity in China stifling creativity
I would like to thank Edward Tse for his spirited rant ("Bright lights", June 9), in which he claims that China actually breeds innovation, for leaving me even more convinced that it does not.
His large-scale examples are faulty. China's space programme standard operating procedures, such as extra water for women astronauts, sound wholly lifted from US space programmes.
The fact that the country's high-speed railway is based on a conglomerate of intellectual property bought very cheaply from high-speed railways in Europe and Japan is well documented in China's own media. The world's highest railway is run on GE locomotives, and permafrost technology borrowed from Russian and Scandinavian engineers.
QQ and WeChat are consolidations of social media platforms that can be traced back to the US. If anything, Chinese entrepreneurs have been free to take the best and move faster.
It is impossible that a country with a population of over 1.35 billion is incapable of innovation. But its education system, the focus on conformity and the rapid economic growth are killing the prospect for now.
Emmanuel Daniel, Singapore


Letters to the Editor, June 19, 2014

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is out of touch. Photo: Reuters

Opinion

I urge all moderate supporters of universal suffrage in Hong Kong to use common sense and not to take part in the so-called referendum scheduled to take place between June 20 and 22, or in the illegal occupation of Central, which may subsequently take place.
