Backchat

 On Thursday’s Backchat, we're diving into the controversy surrounding CK Hutchison’s decision to sell its Panama and other global port operations to US investment conglomerate BlackRock. Shares of the Li Ka-shing-controlled firm have slumped after t...

On Wednesday's Backchat, we're discussing the effects of climate change on our weather patterns. The Hong Kong Observatory has announced that we can expect a hotter summer, along with the possibility of up to eight tropical cyclones starting as early...

On Tuesday's Backchat, we're delving into the latest pay trends. A recent survey of hiring managers reveals that workers can expect salary increases of up to five percent this year and this even as the government announced pay freezes for civil servant...

On today's Backchat, we’re talking about the drop in primary student numbers. Education minister Christine Choi said on Friday the government was left with little choice but to change rules on how local schools can continue to operate, as Hong Kong f...

 On Friday's Backchat, we’re discussing the arrest of former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte. The ex-leader was apprehended at Manila’s international airport on Tuesday upon returning from a personal trip to Hong Kong, on an Interpol warrant req...

 On Thursday's programme, we’re talking about proposals to increase the cost of prescription drugs at public hospitals and clinics. Currently, patients pay only HK$15 for up to 16-weeks’ worth of supplies, with the government covering the remaining 9...

 On Wednesday's Backchat, we’re looking into the key highlights of year’s “Two Sessions” meeting, which concluded in Beijing on Tuesday. The annual plenary session gathered nearly 3,000 deputies from across the country, with over 200 representatives ...

 In the first part of Tuesday's Backchat, we talk about the influx of cruise ships arriving in Hong Kong. Seventeen cruise ships - including the newly built luxury vessels "Silver Nova" and "Queen Anne" - are set to visit the city this month, in a wa...

 On Monday's Backchat, we’re discussing gender equality in the workplace. The number of women on the boards of Hong Kong listed companies has reached a record high of 20.8 percent – that’s according to a report by MSCI. The American financial company...

 On today's Backchat, we talk about the deepening rift between the US and Ukraine. This comes as US President Donald Trump paused military aid to the war-torn country, following a clash with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. In a televi...

 In the first half of Thursday's programme, we’re talking about the five new taxi fleets offering premium services that have just been unveiled. With more than 3,500 vehicles, the first batch are expected to hit the roads later this month. The new tax...

 In the first part of Wednesday's programme, we talk about the "Two Sessions" gathering. Thousands of political elites and lawmakers arrived in the country's capital to discuss the country’s policy trajectory, with economics, trade and artificial inte...

 On Tuesday's Backchat, we’re discussing the dangers of obesity, as it marks World Obesity Day. The Hong Kong Obesity Society is urging parents to better monitor their childrens’ lifestyle, warning that 20 percent of Hong Kong students are at risk of ...

 On Monday’s Backchat, we’re talking about plans by the government to develop the waterfront around Hung Hom. Delivering his Budget speech last Wednesday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said that his administration would propose building a new yacht c...

 On Friday's Backchat, we talk about the Budget and its impact on the private sector. Whilst largely regarded as "belt tightening", the newly unveiled economic blueprint promises a range of incentives to leverage Hong Kong's competitive edge. From t...

 9:05am-10:00am:  2025-26 Budget review 9:05am-10:00am: Kenneth Kwong, Assistant Professor and Programme Director (Entrepreneurial Management), Hang Seng University of Hong Kong 9:05am-9:30am: Kathy Lee, Head of Research and Retail Consultancy, Collie...

 On today's Backchat, we're looking into school dropout rates. This comes after local NGO Youth Outreach warned that over 20,000 Hong Kong school pupils are at risk of dropping out, with 60 percent reported to be below 15. The group is calling on t...

On Tuesday's Backchat, we’re talking about sports arbitration. Speaking at a Law Society event, the Deputy Secretary for Justice - Horace Cheung - said that the government would soon invite dispute resolution institutions to submit proposals, ahead o...

On Monday’s Backchat, we’re talking about the minimum wage. Hong Kong's statutory minimum wage is set to rise from the current HK$40 an hour to HK$42.1. This comes after the Executive Council accepted the recommendation of the Minimum Wage Commission...