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

Cannix Yau

Charging car owners to enter Hong Kong’s crowded Central district is the key to ending serious congestion and making the bustling area more pedestrian-friendly, a walkability group has said.
Markus Shaw, chairman of Walk DVRC, which lobbies for a walkable Central, argued that private car owners should not enjoy the privilege of using the area’s busy roads for free. He voiced support for the government’s proposed pilot scheme for electronic road pricing in the area. The government first studied the pilot scheme in the 1980s and revisited it in 2017.
“If they have to pay more, let them pay more,” Shaw said in an interview with the Post. “Why do they have the privilege of driving in with their chauffeurs and not paying, given they cause so much more congestion for ordinary people?” he said, suggesting that those who do not want to pay more could choose alternative routes outside the charging zone.

The government has proposed the “user-pays” scheme for charging motorists driving into the heart of Central, covering 14 streets, as it aims to reduce traffic in the area by 15 per cent. The proposed roads include Queen’s Road Central, Des Voeux Road Central and Connaught Road Central.
Opinion: Why can’t Hong Kong do as Singapore does and limit the number of private cars?
But the government did not say when the scheme would begin, how long it would last or how much motorists would be charged, only pointing out that fees would vary according to the time of day.
Transport officials have been gauging views from relevant stakeholders, such as the Central and Western district councils. However, last month the council passed a motion opposing the congestion-charging scheme and urged the government to revise the proposal to solve congestion problems.

Shaw said he was baffled by the reservations of many council members, who he said were more concerned about drivers than the well-being of pedestrians.
“First of all, I don’t understand it. Car drivers are a minority and they are a wealthy minority. Why are the [district council] members so worried about drivers, and not about pedestrians?” he said.
“The government is thinking the right thing but unfortunately the DC members are all Mr and Mrs No.”
SCMP Editorial: Hong Kong’s perennial traffic jams can and should be cleared
According to government figures, the annual average daily traffic entering and leaving the Central core district has increased from 463,000 vehicles in 2003 to 503,400 in 2017 – an increase of about 10 per cent. Among those vehicles, about 45 per cent are private cars and 30 per cent taxis.
The government said in the past few years the speed of traffic in major corridors in the core district during peak hours had been getting slower and slower.

Shaw called on district councillors to support the trial scheme as the rapid growth in the number of cars in the heart of Central had caused serious problems of congestion and pollution.
“Let’s do a trial scheme rather than just say no to it. If it works, make it permanent. If it doesn’t work, either adjust it or abandon it. Don’t just say no,” he said.
He pointed out that many international cities, such as London, Stockholm, Milan and Singapore, had adopted electronic road pricing and had positive results in reducing congestion.
Opinion: Decentralise Hong Kong’s business districts to ease traffic congestion
“Many parts of Central are a terrible experience for pedestrians and there is far too much space given to cars. Look at Des Voeux Road Central: there are four lanes for traffic but just two very narrow lanes for pedestrians,” he said. “That’s not a fair division of space. We need a solution for that.”
Central and Western District Council member Cheng Lai-king, of the Democratic Party, said her party’s members opposed the pilot scheme because the government had still failed to devise a well-thought-out plan to win their support.

“There were many questions the government failed to answer, such as the proposed fee range and whether residents in the Central district might be exempted. The officials gave us the sense that they hadn’t thought through the details. How can they ask for our support?” she said.
Cheng argued the scheme would push many motorists outside the charging zone to avoid paying the fee, resulting in more congestion elsewhere.
“If the pilot scheme displaces the congestion problems to other streets in Central, what’s the point in having this scheme?” she said.
Opinion: How Hong Kong can cut traffic congestion: invest in smart technology
Quentin Cheng Hin-kei, a spokesman for concern group the Public Transport Research Team, said he supported the basic idea of the scheme but the government needed to formulate a fee scale to effectively discourage drivers from entering the charging zone.
“We think that the charging area should be broadened to achieve a desirable effect. Regarding the proposed fees, they need to be high enough to deter motorists. If you are talking about HK$3 (US$0.40), it’d be useless,” he said.
“Also, the government has to introduce other supporting measures such as raising the cost of first-registration tax for vehicles and penalties for illegal parking to rein in the growth of car numbers.”


Congestion charges for Hong Kong motorists only way to solve Central gridlock and make area more welcoming for pedestrians, concern group says

According to government figures, the annual average daily traffic entering and leaving the Central core district has increased from 463,000 vehicles in 2003 to 503,400 in 2017. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Markus Shaw, Chairman of Walk DVRC (Des Voeux Road Central), poses for a picture in Central. 10JUN19 SCMP / Edmond So

Heavy traffics is seen on the Des Voeux Road Central in Central. 11DEC15 SCMP/Dickson Lee

Pedestrians walk on street in Central. 27SEP17 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Queen's Road Central. 13DEC17 Photo: Fung Chang

News

Hong Kong

Transport

Society

Markus Shaw of Walk DVRC says car owners should not use area’s streets for free, making them intolerable for those on foot
Government yet to announce when road-pricing scheme will be implemented for Central and faces opposition from local council


Markus Shaw of Walk DVRC says private car owners should not use area’s streets for free, making them intolerable for pedestrians.


Transport and logistics

Congestion charges for Hong Kong motorists only way to solve Central gridlock and make area more welcoming for pedestrians, concern group says

Markus Shaw of Walk DVRC says car owners should not use area’s streets for free, making them intolerable for those on foot Government yet to announce when road-pricing scheme will be implemented for Central and faces opposition from local council

Markus Shaw of Walk DVRC says car owners should not use area’s streets for free, making them intolerable for those on foot

Government yet to announce when road-pricing scheme will be implemented for Central and faces opposition from local council