New head of Hong Kong’s social worker body named after controversial revamp to depoliticise sector
- Herman Hui, appointed chairman of Social Workers Registration Board for three-year term, says he will try to increase transparency
A Hong Kong lawyer and veteran adviser to authorities has become the head of the city’s social worker regulator, two days after legislation paved the way for the body to be controlled by government-appointed members.
A notice in the Government Gazette on Friday said Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu had picked Herman Hui Chung-shing as chairman of the Social Workers Registration Board for a three-year term with immediate effect.
The selection of other board members was also announced as part of a string of changes that the government earlier insisted were needed to depoliticise a sector whose members were seen as sympathetic to protesters during the 2019 social unrest.
Hui on Friday highlighted that the new board had representatives from a variety of sectors, including social workers and other professionals such as doctors, lawyers and accountants, as well as experienced administrative staff and university academics.
“We hope that the spirit of the Social Workers Registration Ordinance will be brought out in full,” he said.
“I will try to increase our transparency so that the general public and other social workers will know how we uphold our responsibilities and maintain the professional status of registered social workers.”