主持人：Azam Khan and CM Chan
Backchat is RTHK Radio 3's week-daily current affairs discussion programme, with expert panels and listener participation. It airs every Monday to Friday from 9.05am - 10am (HKT).
Have your say by calling us on 233 88 266, find us on Facebook - Backchat on RTHK Radio 3, or email backchat@rthk.gov.hk
Listen live on Radio 3's homepage - www.rthk.hk/radio/radio3
On this programme, we first look at the expanded "Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles" arrangement. Starting from July 25, approved vehicles from five more Greater Bay Area cities – Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou and Zhaoqing – will be able to enter Hong Kong and stay for up to three days.
After that, we talk to a scholar on why acquiring a driving instructor's licence in Hong Kong has become so competitive. This came as the government received over 55,000 applications for 332 new licences.
After the break, we hear about a study by the Hong Kong Metropolitan University on how retired professionals can alleviate the labour shortage.
And finally, a lawmaker tells us all about the proposal of an "AI for all" initiative by the government that will earmark HK$50 million to host more than 200 events over the next two years.
9:05am-9:21am: Expansion of southbound travel scheme
Speaker:
Caspar Tsui, Executive director of the Federation of Hong Kong Hotels Owners
9:21am-9:30am: High demand for driving instructor's licenses
Speaker:
Timothy Hau, Transport expert and Honorary Associate Professor at the HKU Business School, The University of Hong Kong
9:32am-9:47am: Hong Kong Metropolitan University's study on retirees
Speaker:
Raymond Kwong,Assistant Professor at the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
9:47am-10:00am: "AI for All" initiative
Speaker:
Ray Wong, Lawmaker
主持人：Azam Khan and CM Chan
On Wednesday’s Backchat, we looked into a study revealing that the consumption of artificial sweeteners is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline. The researcher behind the study presented her findings.
We then discussed the traditions behind the Hungry Ghost Festival, which was observed in early September in 2025. This year’s was especially significant, as the Wah Fu Estate hosted the first such festival in five years.
And lastly, we heard from one of the panelists at a Hong Kong Productivity Council conference on smart plastic utilisation.
9:05am-9:30am: Artificial sweeteners and cognitive decline
Speakers:
Dr Claudia Suemoto, study author and Associate Professor of Geriatrics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo
Winsy Leung, dietitian
9:32am-9:40: Hungry Ghost Festival
Speaker:
Wu Yim-chung, Chairman of the Yu Lan Festival Preservation Committee of the Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community
9:41am-10:00am: HKPC plastics conference
Speaker:
Dr Chris DeArmitt, President of Phantom Plastics
