Hong Kong’s labour and welfare chief will act as “gatekeeper” in some matters concerning social workers in Hong Kong, including enforcing the sector’s code of practice and the formation of its disciplinary committee, the city’s current labour and welfare minister has said.
The move follows earlier complaints by Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun that the board overseeing the sector was failing to protect national security.
Sun told the legislature on Thursday that a proposed amendment to the city’s social worker registration ordinance would clarify the role of the chief in overseeing the sector’s registration board, as legislators formed a committee to consider the bill.
But Sun said the chair and the vice-chair would still be elected by board members and the government should “respect” the approach.
Authorities have proposed changes to the Social Workers Registration Board, expanding its membership from 15 to 27 with a government-appointed majority. Board members would be required to take an oath pledging allegiance to the city and the Basic Law.
“The registration board is wielding public power. They have a responsibility to safeguard national security and act in the public interest at every moment,” Sun said in Cantonese.
‘Only benefit and no harm’
Lawmaker Connie Lam, a registered social worker by profession, asked if the amendment would trigger a “wave of resignations” in the sector. Sun dismissed the concern.
“We absolutely don’t see why the amendment would prompt social workers to resign. On the contrary, the amendment would greatly improve the credibility of the registration board,” he said. “There is only benefit and no harm.”
Two veteran social workers earlier described the amendment as “political interference” in the sector’s professional autonomy – a claim which Sun also denied.
He said the registration board would maintain a professional majority under the amendment, which had demonstrated the government’s “utmost sincerity.” The proposed change stipulates that at least 14 of the 27 members must be registered social workers.
Sun also said the government would consider making further amendments to bar social workers convicted of certain crimes – including endangering national security – from re-entering the profession.
‘Extremely rare’
The amendment states that the board should permanently de-register social workers convicted of offences including endangering national security, ill-treating a child, and indecent assault. The board would have discretion to decide otherwise.
But Sun said it would be “extremely rare” that a social worker convicted of such offences could keep their registration or re-enter the profession. He added authorities would gather views on whether this “back door” should be completely closed.
Tik Chi-yuen, who represents the social welfare sector in the Legislative Council, proposed the bill committee hold a public hearing on the amendment. But the proposal was shot down by other lawmakers, including Tommy Cheung and Bill Tang, who urged a swift passage of the bill.
The legislative process began last Wednesday, less than a fortnight after Sun slammed the current registration board and said changes were needed to “better protect national security.”
The Hong Kong Social Workers’ General Union said the government’s move left little space for discussion and demonstrated its distrust of the sector.
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