8:30am-9:20am: border reopening
8:30am-9:20am: Benjamin Cowling Head of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong
8:30am-9:00am: Mark Michelson, Chairman, Asia CEO Forum at IMA Asia
9:00am-9:20am: Sze Lai-shan, Deputy Director, The Society for Community Organisation (SoCo)
9:20am-9:30am: World Cup
9:20am-9:30am: Atom Cheung, RTHK sports reporter
On Monday’s Backchat, we’re talking about plans to reopen the border with mainland China and the surge in Covid cases in Beijing and other major cities on the mainland.
Chief Executive John Lee said it s "highly possible" to reopen the border in 2023, amid reports that thousands of customs, immigration and police have been dispatched to prepare border checkpoints for an expected surge in traffic.
But at the same time, there are reports of growing numbers of infections in major cities across China. And a University of Hong Kong study predicted that nearly 1
8:30am-9:15am: electricity tariff increase
8:30am-8:50am: Tom Ng, Greenpeace campaigner
8:30am-9:00am: Dr William Yu, Founder & CEO, World Green Organisation
9:00am-9:15am: Kenny Ng, member, Kwai Chung Subdivided Flats Residents Alliance
9:00am-9:15am: Sze Lai-shan, Deputy Director, The Society for Community Organisation (SoCo)
9:15am-9:25am: Sexuality education in secondary schools
9:15am-9:25am: Doris Tsui, Acting Head (Policy, Research and Training) of the Equal Opportunities Commission
9:25am-9:30am: World Cup
9:25am-9:30am: Atom Cheung, RTHK sports reporter
On Wednesday’s Backchat, we’re talking about the rise in electricity tariffs.
Both of Hong Kong’s power firms are raising fees, citing the surge in global energy prices and the energy crisis caused by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Taking into account rebates and fuel charges, tariffs for CLP Power customers are set to rise by 6.4 percent in January compared to now, while
8:30am-9:15am: Chief Executive’s first 100 days
8:30am-9:15am: James Sung, founding director of the Progress and Perfection Research Institute
8:30am-9:00am: Andrew Lam, Election Committee lawmaker
8:30am-9:00am: Allan Zeman, chairman of the Lan Kwai Fong Group
9:00am-9:15am: Sze Lai-shan, Deputy Director, The Society for Community Organisation (So-Co)
9:15am-9:30am: Covid-19 vaccination exemption certificates
9:15am-9:30am: Alex Lam, Chairman, Hong Kong Patients’ Voices
On Wednesday‘s Backchat, we’re looking at the Chief Executive’s first 100 days in the top job, ahead of his maiden Policy Address next Wednesday.
John Lee has scrapped hotel quarantines and scaled back anti-Covid measures, but is maintaining a cautious approach to the city’s overall pandemic strategy. He has also promised to include suggestions from his taskforces on land supply and public housing into his policy address.
What do you think of his performance so far? Is h