On today's Backchat, we're talking about the government's plan to raise university tuition fees for Hong Kong students. The HK$42,000 yearly fees for local public universities have remained unchanged for 30 years and are lower than in most other developed places.

So Secretary for Education Christine Choi said on a RTHK programme that it's time to consider raising fees, although she pledged any increase would be implemented in stages while offering more support to those in need.


But grassroots groups still worry that any increase could affect underprivileged students. So how does the financing of Hong Kong's tertiary institutions compare to the rest of the world? We'll find out.


After 9:45, we find out more about plans to keep the Hong Kong Stock Exchange open during typhoons and severe rainstorms.

9:05am-9:45am: Proposed university fee increases


9:05am-9:45am: Gerry Postiglione, Emeritus and Honorary Professor; Chair Professor in Higher Education, The University of Hong Kong
9:15am-9:30am: Vera Yuen, Lecturer in Economics, HKU Business School The University of Hong Kong
9:30am-9:45am: Rita Li, Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Finance, Hong Kong Shue Yan University


9:45am-10:00am: Opening of the stock exchange on typhoon days

9:45am-10:00am: Mofiz Chan, Chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Professionals Association