Suspended social worker backs down on mandatory registration

A social worker who refused to comply with the compulsory registration system made a U-turn yesterday, saying he would apply to renew his registration today.

Lai Wing-shing decided not to have his registration renewed after it expired last October, saying mandatory registration could not upgrade the professionalism of social workers.

'Why do we have to be so silly to pay $600 every year to the Social Workers Registration Board, while it is doing nothing to improve social workers' quality?' he had asked.

He also refused to register in October 1998 and shaved his hair in protest.

Mr Lai, who has worked as a social work assistant for the Social Welfare Department for 27 years, said he did not see social work as a professional job.

'Everyone offering social services is a social worker. The code of ethics stated by the registration board is limiting social workers' freedom,' he said.