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

Iris Deng

Many factories in China’s technology hub of Shenzhen are managing to run at or near full capacity while adhering to China’s rigid “dynamic zero” Covid-19 policy, offering a glimpse at how the country’s vast manufacturing machine keeps humming under the world’s strictest quarantine regime.
At BST Computer Accessory, a smartphone charging cable manufacturer in the city’s northwestern industrial district of Guangming, all 300 of its workers were kept busy on an early May workday. It was just a few weeks after Shenzhen imposed a citywide lockdown in March to battle a fresh outbreak in the city amid a much larger surge just across the border in Hong Kong.
Shenzhen’s lockdown forced the factory to suspend operations for five days, but it was just a blip in the factory’s production, according to Hu Jun, the company’s owner. Hu had applied to resume production under a “closed-loop” system that keeps workers on site in case the lockdown was extended, but it was lifted on the fifth day, before a government review of the factory’s preparedness was completed.
“We needed to follow the government’s order, but fortunately we were able to recover quite soon,” Hu said.

While the factory has posted signs reminding workers to wear masks, some ignore the recommendation. Hu said one reason enforcement has not been strict is because medical staff conduct nucleic acid testing for workers in the industrial park every two days.
“The tests are organised by the government and free of charge,” he said.
Activity in the industrial park suggests that nearby businesses share BST’s relative success in keeping production uninterrupted. A steady stream of cars and trucks can be seen entering and leaving compounds in the area, with some of the number plates showing they have travelled from other provinces.
Shenzhen’s approach of giving preferential treatment to industrial enterprises in its Covid-19 control policies has been widely copied across China, including Shanghai, which remains under strict lockdown as it faces the worst outbreak in the country.
Hangzhou and Beijing follow Shenzhen’s approach to ‘dynamic zero’ of mass testing
While most Shanghai residents are kept at home and few stores are open, the local government in April picked 666 enterprises, including Tesla, to resume production. It later approved another 1,188 factories to restart production.
With all the additional requirements for testing and tracking, local authorities and factories like BST have kept the world’s second largest economy from grinding to a complete halt. The impact of China’s dynamic zero policy on industrial production is far smaller than on services and domestic consumption.
This is partly why Beijing is doubling down on the policy. It has so far helped the government walk a fine line, keeping economic activity at an acceptable level while avoiding widespread large outbreaks that the country’s healthcare system may be ill-equipped to handle.
BST’s Hu said his factory would be able to run in closed-loop mode if there is another Covid-19 outbreak. At least 200 workers can sleep in the industrial park’s dormitory area, he said.
Many factories in Shenzhen are located in walled-off compounds in industrial areas. Larger players like Foxconn Technology Group, the Taiwanese electronics giant that assembles iPhones, have their own campuses that make it even quicker to implement a closed-loop system.
The Foxconn factories in Longhua and Guanlan districts suspended operations for just a few days this year during the citywide lockdown. The two factories have been operating normally and “strictly following the anti-pandemic requirements of the government”, a Foxconn representative said.


After the lockdown was lifted, the city of 17 million adopted a new approach of mandatory testing. Shenzhen requires residents to present negative test results within 72 hours of taking subways or entering factory compounds or other public venues. Local authorities have installed thousands of stands across the city to make testing free and easily accessible.
This model, which has embedded nucleic acid testing into everyday urban life, was later adopted by other major Chinese cities such as Hangzhou and Beijing as an alternative to rigid lockdowns. In an ideal situation, repeated testing of the population can keep factories, shopping malls and restaurants operating as usual.
Last week, Shenzhen reported first-quarter gross domestic product growth of 2 per cent to reach 706.5 billion yuan (US$107 billion). This was well below national GDP growth of 4.8 per cent for the quarter. Shenzhen is targeting 6 per cent growth for the year.
A cable coating factory just a few miles away from BST in Guangming district has adopted even stricter antivirus measures. The general manager of the company, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to talk to news media, has reminded visitors to keep their masks on during factory tours and refuses to shake hands. All vehicles need to register at the gate and gain approval to enter the industrial park.
Shenzhen’s cross-border e-commerce trade grinds to a halt amid Ukraine crisis, lockdown
He said he is not taking any chances because just one positive case in the compound could disrupt production. His factory was also closed during the week-long lockdown in March, and like Hu, the restrictions were lifted before his application to operate a closed-loop system was approved.
“We will be able to go straight into closed-loop mode should there be another lockdown in the future,” the manager said.
His office decor proved he had begun to prepare: a bunk bed, covered by a mosquito net, sat adjacent to his desk and a wooden tea table.


Shenzhen factories keep running at full capacity despite Covid-19 disruptions in test of China’s zero-tolerance approach

Shenzhen residents ride scooters and bicycles along a street on March 21, after the city was reopened following a week-long lockdown to combat a Covid-19 outbreak. Photo: AFP

Workers at BST Computer Accessory assemble smartphone charging cables under a sign reminding employees to wear a mask when handling chemicals. Photo: SCMP / Iris Deng

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Many factories in the southern tech hub have prepared to operate in a ‘closed loop’ that keeps workers on site if lockdowns return to the city
The approach to industrial activity has helped the Chinese government maintain economic growth even as services and domestic consumption take a hit



Many factories in the southern tech hub have prepared to operate a ‘closed-loop’ system, illustrating how the Chinese government has kept up certain economic activity amid tight restrictions.


Shenzhen factories keep running at full capacity despite Covid-19 disruptions in test of China’s zero-tolerance approach

Many factories in the southern tech hub have prepared to operate in a ‘closed loop’ that keeps workers on site if lockdowns return to the city The approach to industrial activity has helped the Chinese government maintain economic growth even as services and domestic consumption take a hit

Many factories in the southern tech hub have prepared to operate in a ‘closed loop’ that keeps workers on site if lockdowns return to the city

The approach to industrial activity has helped the Chinese government maintain economic growth even as services and domestic consumption take a hit