New members of welfare board to be sworn in

Neo Tsim

New government-appointed members will be sworn in to the Social Workers Registration Board tomorrow after the government passed an amendment bill in the Legislative Council yesterday to revamp the board.

According to sources, at least three members from the pro-establishment social workers' group Connecting Hearts will be appointed, including the group's vice chairwoman and former permanent secretary for labor and welfare, Annie Tam Kam-lan, as well as the group's two deputy secretary generals, Fredrick Lai Wing-hoi and Barry Wong Man-sing.

Another current appointed member, former commissioner of correctional services Sin Yat-kin, said he is willing to continue serving on the board if reappointed.

Secretary for Labor and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the new members will have to take a "sincere" oath to uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the SAR government to ensure a seamless transition.

"The passage of the bill indicates the board 'can return to the right track' and prioritize public interest and national security, as well as boost the industry's professional development," Sun said.

Sun expects the new board to "appropriately" handle the registrations of social workers convicted of national security offenses and other serious crimes.

However, there will be no by-election for the seven vacant seats after seven elected board members resigned in opposition to the government's revamp. Sun assured that the board's operation will not be affected.

Social welfare lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen acknowledged some social workers feel uneasy about the revamp and called for more government communication with the industry.

Legco panel member Stanley Li Sai-wing, from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, supported the amendment as over half the new board members will have professional backgrounds.

The revamp followed the government's criticism of the board for failing to ban national security convicts from becoming social workers.

The government therefore decided to increase the number of members to 27 from 15, with the number of government-appointed members rising to 17 from six, and requires all members to take an oath to uphold the Basic Law.

neo.tsim@singtaonewscorp.com