The region’s legislature passed a new law that changes the role of the regulator, who can now deregister social workers who supported the pro-democracy movement. Hong Kong’s welfare secretary called for the depoliticisation of the sector after so many social workers backed the 2019 demonstrations. The most vulnerable will pay for this in a society where the exodus of young families is creating an emergency for seniors.
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – After forcing the Apple Daily newspaper to close and silencing its journalists, after arresting lawyers like Chow Hang tung who supported the struggle for democracy, now it is the turn of social workers to be in the crosshairs of Hong Kong authorities in the name of “national security”.
In yet another onslaught against freedom of opinion, the Special Administrative Region’s Legislative Council (LegCo) today passed a bill that allows the revamped social worker regulator to deregister members convicted of crimes related to national security and certain other offences.
The stated intent is to "depoliticise" a sector whose members had strongly supported the 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations in the former British colony.
According to Labour and Welfare Secretary Chris Sun Yuk-han, the new legislation will provide a "better" and "more secure" basis for the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) to operate, dismissing fears that it could discourage people from joining the profession.
The new law raises the number of SWRB members from 15 to 27 members, increasing the number of government appointees, giving the authorities greater control over the agency that regulates the work of Hong Kong's 27,000 social workers.
Secretary Sun had accused the previous council of failing to prevent national security offenders from becoming registered professionals.
Seven of the eight elected members of the council, including former Chairman Ng Yut-ming, resigned in protest at the new law.
The most vulnerable sections of the population are likely to pay the price for this, precisely at a time when many elderly people have been left alone due to the exodus of so many young families fleeing repression.
Critics of the government's legislation fear its impact on the sector, like demoralising social workers, undermining their professional autonomy, as well as denying their right to express themselves on social issues.