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Statutory registration system for social workers
Following is a question by the Hon Hui Yin-fat and a written reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council whether it will introduce legislation to set up a statutory registration system for social workers in the territory, if so, when it plans to introduce such legislation?
Reply:
The short answer to the first part of the question is 'yes'. On 30 May 1995, the Executive Council approved the drafting of a Government Bill to provide for the statutory registration of social workers in Hong Kong.
The Bill will establish a Board -
(a)
(b)
(c)
to register and discipline "registered social workers" and "enrolled social workers":
to set the qualifications needed for registration and assess those qualifications: and
to issue a Code of Practice or Code of Conduct.
We also propose that the Board would comprise a majority elected by and from the Council made up of registered social workers with the rest appointed by the Governor and representing, for example. employers, academics and the community at large.
The Bill would restrict the use of titles such as "registered social worker" etc. to those who are registered, while not preventing those who are not registered from providing social work or social welfare services.