Unrest cases fuel push for social workers' board overhaul

Lawmakers have called on the government to restructure the Social Workers Registration Board after convicted social workers were allowed to keep their professional registration.

Seven social workers have been convicted and sentenced since 2018, but none have seen their registrations revoked, said Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong in a Legislative Council meeting yesterday.

The seven were convicted of unlawful assembly, assaulting police officers, incitement to commit public nuisance, drug possession, fraud and others.

The board has ruled that the registration renewal for three of the social workers are not affected by their convictions. It is not known what their offenses are.

"So long as the board acts in accordance with the ordinance on the disciplinary control of social workers and related matters, it would not be appropriate for the government to intervene," Law said.

Lawmaker Leung Che-cheung of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong called on Law to change the composition of the board that is responsible for the registration and disciplinary affairs of social workers.

The Social Workers Registration Ordinance says the 15-strong board should consist of eight registered social workers elected by their peers, while another six are appointed by the chief executive.

At least three of the government appointees should neither be a registered social worker nor a public officer.

Leung said the number of non-social workers that are appointed should not be less than the number of social workers appointed to the board.

He said the current composition was imbalanced and providing a shelter for those who are convicted.

"Self-regulatory organizations generally consist of more members that are professionals in their field," Law said. "The percentage of members being elected and appointed through the government is already the highest among the many professional ordinances we know."

Leung's party colleague Holden Chow Ho-ding said offenses related to the anti-fugitive bill movement, such as unauthorized assembly and police assault, should be included in the list of offenses that bar a person from being or continue to be a registered social worker.

A former social welfare sector lawmaker, Bottle Shiu Ka-chun, said he is not surprised the pro-establishment group is trying to extend the list of offenses, as it is part of its plans to restructure the social welfare sector.

He added the list of offenses that prevents a person from being a registered social worker was originally set to prevent mainly sex-related crimes, which the sector considered most concerning.

"It does not make sense," Shiu said in response to the pro-establishment proposal to restructure the board. "Which professional organization is led by people other than professionals in their field?"