Hong Kong social worker body given powers to permanently deregister national security offenders
- Amendments passed by lawmakers also increase number of government-appointed members on Social Workers Registration Board
Hong Kong lawmakers have approved a bill allowing the city’s revamped social worker regulator to permanently disqualify those convicted of national security offences and certain other crimes, saying the move will depoliticise a sector whose members were heavily pro-protesters during the 2019 social unrest.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han argued on Wednesday that the amended Social Workers Registration Ordinance would provide a better, more secure foundation for the operation of the Social Workers Registration Board, dismissing concerns that it would discourage people from joining the profession.
“We believe that with the amendment bill and the strengthened composition of the Social Workers Registration Board, it will encourage more young people to study social work and be a social worker,” the minister said after the bill passed.
Sun said the changes also meant the process of registering social workers was back on the right track, as operations and decision-making were now aligned with the public interest and ensuring national security.
The ordinance empowered the board to oversee the registration of social workers, as well as disciplinary matters.
The amendments passed by the Legislative Council will increase the size of the body from 15 members to 27, boosting the proportion of government appointees.