Hong Kong social worker code of conduct to include national security provisions: watchdog

Social Workers Registration Board chairman announces extra provisions to tackle national security offenders, months after watchdog’s shake-up

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The Social Workers Registration Board earlier underwent an overhaul backed by authorities. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 4:12pm, 7 Sep 2024Updated: 6:45pm, 7 Sep 2024

The code of conduct for Hong Kong social workers will include provisions on safeguarding national security, the head of the profession’s watchdog has said, with the organisation reviewing the licences of members linked to certain criminal cases.

Herman Hui Chung-shing, chairman of the Social Workers Registration Board, which oversees 27,000 professionals in the sector, said on Saturday that the code of conduct would include the provisions to bolster the mechanism for dealing with anyone involved in national security and other serious criminal cases.

“We will incorporate the relevant provisions into the [code of conduct] as a reminder to social workers that they need to behave to uphold their professional dignity,” he told a TV programme.

Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, with the legislation targeting acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

The board in July of this year underwent a controversial revamp after authorities accused the watchdog of failing to take firmer action to prevent those convicted of national security offences from registering to join the profession.

The concerns prompted lawmakers to pass legislative amendments that authorities insisted would depoliticise a sector whose membership was seen as largely sympathetic to the 2019 anti-government protests.