Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on Social Workers Registration Board at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (July 6):
Reporter: Mr Sun, can you talk more about the reformed Social Workers Registration Board? How would the appointment of Mr Herman Hui, who is a lawyer by practice, would help in leading the statutory body? Also, lawmakers said that the Board lacked members from smaller organisations. Do you agree with the view that the board should include more people from smaller organisations to make it more inclusive and representative?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Thank you very much. The new Social Workers Registration Board was formed yesterday with the appointment of Mr Herman Hui as the new Chairperson. We believe the Board is going to carry out its duties in accordance with the law, including the four major tasks I have asked the Board to take in the coming year, including:
(1) setting up a mechanism to deal with social workers who have committed offenses relating to national security;
(2) reviewing the Code of Practice for Registered Social Workers;
(3) reviewing the appointment of members to the Disciplinary Committee Panel; and
(4) setting up a mechanism for continuing professional development.
Herman is well known in the welfare field. He has been serving the sector for more than 30 years. While he is not a registered social worker, for those in the welfare sector, Herman is so well known because of his dedication, commitment, and also his selfless services to the sector. I am sure he is going to command the respect of the sector. The deputy Chairperson, Miss Grace Chan, is a very capable, competent, and well-regarded social worker in the field. The two together is going to lead the Board forward.
The appointment to the Board is all ad personam. It is on a personal basis. They are requested to carry out their duties dutifully and not having regard to where they are coming from. There is no difference between those coming from larger, smaller or medium-sized welfare organisations. They are to look after the social workers from their individual points of view. The Social Workers Registration Board is only concerning the registration of individual social workers and not the welfare institutions. It is not relevant whether they are coming from larger or smaller organisations in the field. Thank you very much.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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