主持人：Azam Khan and Rainbow Leung
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 Rainbow Leung
On Friday's Backchat, we looked at the historic New York City mayoral win by 34-year old Zohran Mamdani. He became the first African-born, and the first of South Asian descent to take up the post that oversees the largest city in the United States. His victory was part of a Democratic sweep of several key district elections.
The self-styled socialist-democrat has already announced an all-female transition team as he prepares for New York mayoralty. What challenges will he face in implementing his progressive policies? We found out.
After the break, we learned more about the "Day of Dead", or in Spanish, ''Dia de Muertos'. It's a celebration to honour those who've passed away, and was marked last weekend by Mexico, Latin America and the Philippines.
And finally, we heard from a top astro-physicist in the city about the latest developments regarding the Shenzhou-21, China's crewed spaceflight that recently docked at Tianggong space-station in record time.
9:05am-9:30am: Zohran Mamdani's New York mayoral win
Speakers:
Mark Michelson, Chairman of the Asia CEO Forum at IMA Asia
Robin Smith, Chair of the Democrats Abroad Hong Kong
9:32am-9:47am: Day of the Dead
Speaker:
Adriana Falcon, Hong Kong-based Mexican musician
9:47am-10:00am: Shenzhou-21 docking
Speaker:
Prof. Quentin Parker, Director of the Laboratory for Space Research at the University of Hong Kong
