On Friday's Backchat, we're discussing ongoing pro-Palestinian protests on US campuses. Dubbed as the "most sweeping and prolonged" demonstrations since the Vietnam war protests in the 1960s and 70s, the current unrest has seen dozens of students oc...

 On Thursday’s Backchat we’re talking about a new system for setting Hong Kong’s minimum wage which will take economic growth and consumer prices into account and mean that it can never be cut back below its existing level in future. Secretary for Lab...

 On Tuesday's Backchat, we're talking about calls for better supervision of school closures. Controversy has arisen over the case of Rosaryhill Secondary School, in Wan Chai, which is planning to close earlier than orginally announced. Its sponsoring ...

 On Monday’s Backchat, we're talking about Hong Kong's deepening ties with the Middle East. Last week, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia ratified a legal pact in a move aimed at strengthening cooperation in matters related to dispute avoidance and resolutio...

 On Friday's Backchat, we're talking about the Audit Commission's latest report on public dental services. The auditor found that the daily number of appointment quotas at public dental clinics dropped by 50 percent from 40,322 in 2018-19 to 20,337 i...

 On Thursday's Backchat, we’re asking if flexible working is becoming the new normal. Singapore has just announced that employers must consider employees’ requests for four-day weeks and work from home from December onwards. First introduced in resp...

 On Wednesday's Backchat, we're talking about serious flu cases and calls for citizens to be vaccinated. The medical sector is urging members of the public to get their flu jabs after an eight-year-old unvaccinated girl, infected with the influenza A ...

 On today's Backchat, we're talking about extreme weather and waste reduction, which were key themes of Earth Day on Monday. This year's Earth Day came amid a series of weather events recorded around the world over the past few days. Authorities in ...

 On Monday's Backchat, we're talking about the ban on single use plastic. Starting Monday — which is Earth Day — catering premises will no longer be able to provide disposable expanded polystyrene tableware, which includes single-use plastic straws, s...

 On Friday's Backchat, we're talking about escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. Last week, Iran fired over 300 drones and missiles in retaliation to its foe's strike on a diplomatic compound in Damascus earlier this month, killing 16, includin...

 On Thursday's Backchat, we're talking about how to make the best use of public funds at a time when all government departments are being asked to tighten their belts. Legislators have been meeting all week in a Special Finance Committee session to qu...

 On Wednesday’s Backchat, we're be talking about the increasing divorce rate in Hong Kong. Divorce applications rose 25% last year and splitting couples had to wait longer to have their cases heard in Family Court, with the average waiting time reach...

 On Tuesday's Backchat, we're talking about calls to tackle "job-hopping" among foreign domestic helpers. Authorities last year announced that a revised employment agencies' code of practice would be published this quarter, as some employers are stru...

On today's Backchat, we're talking about National Security Education Day and discuss the concept of "holistic security". This year's event coincides with the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's introduction of a holistic approach to national se...

 On Friday's Backchat, we're talking about fire safety -- after a blaze in Jordan left five people dead and more than 40 injured on Wednesday. Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the tragedy, but a Fire Services Department spokesperson told R...

 On today's Backchat, we're talking about youngsters' uncertainty over their future. A survey by Shue Yan University found 80% of secondary school students are unsure what path they want to follow in life. The researchers also said 20% of the teena...

 On Wednesday's Backchat, we're talking about fresh calls to increase taxi fares by up to 17 percent. Officials on Monday said they are considering an application by the taxi trade for fare increases, including a HK$5 rise in the flagfall for urban ta...

 On Tuesday’s Backchat, we're talking about US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's official visit to China. Throughout her four-day trip which wrapped-up on Monday, the veteran economist held a range of meetings with Chinese officials and business cham...

 On Monday’s Backchat, we’re talking about the Rugby Sevens. New Zealand’s men and women once again walked away with the silverware on Sunday as they repeated their double Hong Kong Sevens victory from a year ago. The three day event attracted tens ...

 On Friday's Backchat, we’re talking about the worst earthquake to hit Taiwan in 25 years. At least 10 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured as the tremor struck near Hualien county on the island’s east coast on Wednesday. Hundreds of people ...

 In the first half of Wednesday's Backchat, we're talking about the trial run for the Municipal Solid Waste Charging Scheme, known as "pay-as-you-throw", which started on Monday. Fourteen locations are taking part, including public and private housing...

 On Tuesday’s Backchat, we’re talking about tourism and travel, with many people on the move during the long Easter weekend and with the Ching Ming Festival coming up on Thursday. Hong Kong has been aiming to boost spending and attract greater number...

 On Wednesday's Backchat, our subject is transport fare increases. The MTR Corporation has announced that fares will rise by 3.09 percent from June. The increase aligns with the Fare Adjustment Mechanism, which takes into account the corporation's pr...