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

Hong Kong’s tram operator is going all out to beat the Covid-19 blues and refresh its appeal by rolling out a “ding ding” range of everything from craft beer to gin, soft drinks, mooncakes, ice cream, toys and more.
French-owned Hong Kong Tramways is exploring ways to survive as it has taken a beating during the health crisis, said Nixon Cheung Wing-hang, its head of commercial and brand.
“Over the past 10 years, our ridership gradually declined to about 180,000 a day,” he told the Post. “Now we face very daunting challenges due to the coronavirus outbreak.”
Local ridership dropped by an average of 30 per cent since Covid-19 hit Hong Kong early this year, closing schools, and keeping people at home as social-distancing rules kicked in. Tourists stopped coming, and tram advertising has taken a big hit too.
We don’t want something like a ‘Save Hong Kong ding dings’ campaign to eventually happen. That would be too late
Nixon Cheung, Hong Kong Tramways
Affectionately known as “ding dings” for the sound of their bells, the trams are one of the earliest forms of public transport in the city, stretching back 116 years.
“We don’t want something like a ‘Save Hong Kong ding dings’ campaign to eventually happen. That would be too late. We hope to conserve the tram heritage in Hong Kong so we are exploring new products,” Cheung said.

He formed a partnership with about 13 rising enterprises to produce an array of food and drink products under the “Hong Kong Tramways” brand with unique tram designs.
They ranged from Ding Ding Beer partnered with Young Master, gin with Perfume Trees Gin, osmanthus and pear rice water with CheckCheckCin, custard mooncakes with Patisserie La Lune, and Mochi ice cream with Kowloon Dairy.
How Hong Kong has re-energised its iconic electric trams for the 21st century
They are on sale at the company’s online shop, as well as online platforms and retail chains such as HKTV mall and Circle K, with prices ranging from HK$18 for a pack of osmanthus and pear rice water to more than HK$1,000 for a bottle of gin.
The response has been good so far, especially for its mooncakes – 4,000 boxes sold out quickly.

Cheung said the company started with food and drink products to reach out to the public, especially the younger generation.
“We hope that when people eat our products, they will remember to take the tram as a form of support whenever they are on Hong Kong Island,” he said.
The company also has a wide range of souvenirs on sale, ranging from children’s socks and unisex boxer shorts to model trams, a watch and jewellery.
More products are coming up. The company is working with a fashion brand to produce Ding Ding suits, and Cheung is looking for partners for Ding Ding ice cream or crisps.

To appeal to youngsters, it introduced its first mascot, Ding Ding Cat, which appears online and on two trams spreading anti-pandemic health messages.
The firm has also partnered Sanrio, the Japanese firm behind popular children’s products, to use Hello Kitty, My Melody and Little Twin Stars for this year’s Christmas promotional activities.
Cheung’s dream is to tap the education industry by developing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning kits about tram technology and mechanics for primary and secondary school students.
“We are now looking for a credible education institution to endorse our learning kits before we roll them out in local schools. We hope that one day we can set up a Tram Academy to train more tram professionals,” he said.

Operated since 2009 by a joint venture between RATP Dev and Transdev – two French-based public transport companies – the tram firm posted a net profit of HK$37.6 million in 2016, down from HK$54.9 million (US$7.1 million) in 2012.
It runs 165 tram cars – the world’s largest fleet of such double-deckers.
Cheung said the various Ding Ding products have helped boost the morale of the company’s 600 staff members too.
“They feel a growing sense of pride as Ding Dings are not something old-fashioned now. They can be trendy and transformed into any type of products,” he said.
The company has not laid off staff or asked them to take unpaid leave, thanks to the government’s wage subsidy scheme offering employers up to HK$9,000 per worker for six months.
“Our management has promised to keep as many of the staff as it can,” Cheung said. “In fact, we’ve hired a dozen more people to make up for those who retired, to keep our frequency of service.”
Eric Lee, chairman of the Hong Kong Trams Enthusiast fan group, said he tried the limited edition Ding Ding beer.
“I like the design of the beer can which evokes feelings about trams and local heritage. It tasted really good too, with flavours of ginger and osmanthus,” he said.
Applauding the company’s latest efforts, he said: “These products can rejuvenate the image of streetcars and help immerse the tram culture and heritage into people’s daily lives.
“This can change the public’s perception of trams as antiques and slow.”


Hong Kong tram company wants ‘ding ding’ to signal not just a ride, but also ice cream, toys, gin and more

Nixon Cheung, head of commercial and brand at French-owned Hong Kong Tramways. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Going beyond trams to produce an array of unique food products under the iconic âDing Dingâ brand, from craft beer, gin to ice-cream, rice water drinks and mooncakes, Hong Kong tram operator has sought to refresh its appeal and reach out to the wider public for survival amid the Covid-19 pandemic.23OCT20 HANDOUT PHOTO

News

Hong Kong

Transport

Hong Kong Economy


With ridership, advertising hit by Covid-19, company sets out to ‘conserve city’s tram heritage’
Coming up next: Ding Ding suits to wear, educational kit on tram technology for schools



With ridership, advertising hit by Covid-19, company sets out to ‘conserve city’s tram heritage’


Coronavirus Hong Kong

Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | Hong Kong tram company wants ‘ding ding’ to signal not just a ride, but also ice cream, toys, gin and more

With ridership, advertising hit by Covid-19, company sets out to ‘conserve city’s tram heritage’ Coming up next: Ding Ding suits to wear, educational kit on tram technology for schools

With ridership, advertising hit by Covid-19, company sets out to ‘conserve city’s tram heritage’

Coming up next: Ding Ding suits to wear, educational kit on tram technology for schools