8:30am-9:15am: adoption and foster care in Hong Kong
8:30am-9:15am: BH – Hidde Bart de Vries, Co-Chairs, Adoptive Families of Hong Kong
8:30am-8:45am: Phone – Eunice Yung, New People’s Party lawmaker 
8:30am-9:15am: Phone – Carrie Kong, Chief Supervisor, Foster Care Service, Hong Kong
Christian Service 
9:00am-9:15am: Phone – Dr May Lam, Vice-president (Censor/Education) of the Hong Kong
College of Psychiatrists 

9:15am-9:30am: secondary school suspensions
9:15am-9:30am: Phone – Dion Chen, Chairperson, Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council; Principal of Ying Wa College

 On Friday's Backchat, adoption and foster care for kids in Hong Kong and secondary school suspensions. 
Foster care is leading the headlines as a foster family was forced to give up a baby after they sought to adopt the child. 
The request was first rejected by the Social Welfare Department, which said it would terminate the foster care if the couple filed for adoption. But the Welfare Department later told the father that they can continue caring for the baby - for now.
Due to the pandemic and other procedures, the baby has been staying with the family for 17 months, much longer than the usual foster-care duration of about four to six months.
Earlier, the dad criticised officials for “not placing (the baby’s) best interests first” as he feared a change in families would hinder his development. 
Under the current system foster parents cannot adopt the child in their care which raises the question …. Why not? How does the foster care system work and how does the pandemic change things around?
After 9.15am, we’ll talk about the government's decision to suspend face-to-face classes for secondary schools by Monday after a number of students were recently infected with Covid-19. 
Let us know what you think. You can leave a message on our Facebook page, Backchat on RTHK Radio 3, email us at backchat@rthk.hk or give us a call on 23388266.