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

Nations did recognise China’s claims
Eric Edwin Taylor (“Nations with claims want US Navy there”, July 31) should know why other claimants in the South China Sea welcome the presence of the US Navy. It is because they are the ones who began grabbing and militarising the islands in the South China Sea way back in the 1970s. Then China was poor and weak, and now that they find they are outplayed at their own game they run to the US for cover.
China drew up the nine-dash line in the 1940s. This was following its recovery of the South China Sea islands from a defeated Japan under the 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam Declaration which Japan signed as its instruments of surrender. Neither the US, the Philippines nor Vietnam raised any demur. That is, they did recognise China’s legitimate claims but then resorted to taking advantage of China’s weakness in the following years.
It is understandable that Mr Taylor is unaware of these facts. This is because they are rarely reported by the mainstream Western media, preoccupied as it is with spreading fake news on China and the South China Sea.
W. L. Chang, Discovery Bay
Too much carbon dioxide for one planet
I must take issue with Wyss Yim (“Wrong to see carbon dioxide as a pollutant”, July 22).
I disagree with his claim that the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 20 years has led to a greening of the planet. It is unreasonable to say that the gigantic increase has been beneficial to the Earth.
Research done by scientists shows that the amount of carbon dioxide has increased by 30 per cent and the number of trees has decreased by 50 per cent in the past 100 years. Trees use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis to generate food. Carbon is kept inside trees and oxygen is released. But, when trees are burnt, the stored carbon is released at the same time, emitting carbon dioxide. The surging amount of carbon dioxide is directly related to the shrinking number of trees due to deforestation. Increase of the gas does not turn the Earth greener.
Plants need carbon dioxide to survive. But is that much needed? The amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide is way beyond the amount that plants need. Too much carbon dioxide turns the rain more acidic, ­making crops more likely to die.
The increase of carbon dioxide does not only jeopardise the ecosystem, it poses a threat to our lives by increasing the highest temperature year by year. Global warming is not a new phenomenon and banning the use of cars, planes and ships for just two weeks would not help.
We must change daily habits such as taking the bus instead of driving a car.
Terence Lam Ka-hei, Sha Tin
Breastfeeding now important global issue
The media globally picked up on a story about Aliya Shagieva, the youngest daughter of the president of Kyrgyzstan, being photographed breastfeeding in her underwear.
It led to a debate about breastfeeding and sexualisation.
She posted the photo on social media in April with the caption saying she had the right to feed her baby wherever it needed feeding.
This reminded me of how controversial this issue of breastfeeding has been at times in Hong Kong.
For example, in Hong Kong, a taxi driver uploaded a photo of a woman while she was breastfeeding [and later removed it] and it made people very angry.
In my opinion, there is no ­relationship between ­breastfeeding and sexualisation.
Mothers choose to breastfeed, because as doctors have said it is so much healthier than powdered milk.
But they can find it difficult in Hong Kong, because some ­people are still so prejudiced, especially when it comes to breastfeeding in public. They should not have to face these kinds of attitudes nowadays and their privacy should be ­respected.
I am sure what has happened with the Kyrgyz president’s daughter will provoke a debate here just as it has done in her own country.
Phoebe Wong, Tseung Kwan O
Lack of respect for our historic monuments
I am writing to remind the public of the importance of preserving cultural and historical buildings. There are numerous Chinese and Western cultural relics in Hong Kong. However, in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum in 2015, Hong Kong got zero points in the field of cultural heritage.
Why is this? Over the past decade, the priority of the government has been to promote economic development like the modernisation of old urban areas and rural parts of the New Territories. When cultural relics are obstacles to development, they will be subject to varying degrees of damage.
Hongkongers’ lack of respect for cultural relics has hindered their conservation. In fact, historic buildings are like good textbooks.
They can help us understand our history.
Katrina Chan, Hang Hau
Condemnation sounds like empty words
I guess we all know of the non-apologetic apology: “I’m sorry if you feel offended”. How about the non-condemnatory ­condemnation?
This is what we’ve been ­hearing from a phalanx of ­Islamic apologists in your pages recently. Syed Ridwan Elahi, of the Muslim Council of Hong Kong, is just the latest in this genre (“Muslim voices against terror drowned out”, July 30).
They all claim that they have been condemning terrorism. So why do we “misguided” ­non-Muslims still complain?
Well, because these so-called condemnations are not really condemnations at all: terrorism is by people “with Muslim names” (that is, they’re not real Muslims). Or the terrorists have “distorted” Islam’s message (it has nothing to do with Islam). Or terrorism is the fault of the West (that is, because of “our wars of terror in the Middle East”).
I would like to see some real honesty from these representatives of Islam, not obfuscation, ­obscurantism and deflection.
Some brave Muslims – but too few – have addressed this issue front on: selected Koranic doctrines mandate the ­terrorising and killing of infidels.
Many more Muslims, especially those in leadership ­positions, need to face up to these doctrines and neutralise them.
No one imagines this will be easy. But the process can’t begin until it’s acknowledged.
Until then no amount of non-condemnatory ­condemnation is going to cut the ice.
Peter Forsythe, Discovery Bay











Letters to the Editor, August 5, 2017

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the South China Sea while conducting flight operations. Photo: AFP

Opinion