XN000022-1995-06-06 — Page 12

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Registration of social workers proposed

The Governor-in-Council has approved the drafting of a government bill to provide for the registration of social workers and control of their professional conduct in Hong Kong.

The bill will seek to establish a statutory Board with powers to register and discipline "registered social workers" and "enrolled social workers", a spokesman for the Health and Welfare Branch said today (Tuesday).

It will also set the qualifications needed for registration and assess those qualifications; issue a Code of Practice or Code of Conduct; and restrict the use of "registered social worker" to those qualified for registration, while continue to permit those not formally qualified as social workers to provide social work or social welfare services.

"It is important that those in, for example, religious organisations who make such a valuable contribution to welfare services should be able to continue to do so," the spokesman added.

However, the Administration proposes that "enrolled welfare workers", which is a non-professional grade, be excluded from the registration system.

There are over 20 grades in this category carrying out an extremely wide range of tasks and there is no specific qualification or training required by those who make up these grades.

"We do not believe that there is a clear definable basis on which to control these grades. Indeed, to do so would be an attempt to control the social welfare service as opposed to the social work profession," the spokesman said. "Our preliminary view is that, welfare workers should be supervised and disciplined by their employers rather than through legislation and a statutory body.

"But before reaching a final view, we would wish to consult the profession further," he added.

The Board will comprise a majority elected by and from the Council made up of registered social workers with the rest appointed by the Governor.