Social workers, the new “danger” to national security

The government has passed a new law changing the watchdog and allowing people who support pro-democracy movements to be removed from the registers. The Social Welfare Secretary called for a “depoliticisation” following the support of many operators for the 2019 demonstrations. The most vulnerable will pay the consequences in a society where the exodus of young families is creating an emergency for the elderly.

Hong Kong () – After having silenced journalists from the Apple Daily newspaper, which was forced to close down following the arrest of lawyers who supported the battles for democracy such as Chow Hang Tung, social workers have now also become a category in the crosshairs of the Hong Kong authorities in the name of the battle for “national security”. In a new offensive against freedom of opinion, the Hong Kong Legislative Assembly today approved a bill allowing the revamped body that controls the activity of social workers to remove from its Register members convicted of offences related to the National Security Law and certain other offences. The declared intention is to “depoliticise” a sector whose members strongly supported the 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations in the former British colony.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the new ordinance would provide a “better” and “safer” basis for the operation of the Social Workers Registration Board, dismissing fears that it could discourage entry into the profession. The amendments also increase the number of members on the board from 15 to 27, increasing the percentage of those appointed by the government and giving authorities greater scope for oversight within the body that regulates Hong Kong’s 27,000 social workers.

Secretary Sun had accused the previous council of failing to prevent national security violators from joining as registered professionals. Contrary to the Hong Kong government’s line, 7 of the 8 elected members of the council, including former president Ng Yut-ming, resigned in protest.

The most vulnerable sections of the population risk paying the price for all this, precisely at a time when, due to the exodus of many young families fleeing repression, many elderly people have been left alone. Critics of the government’s measure had expressed fears about the impact the new rules could have on the sector, undermining operators’ morale, their professional autonomy and their right to express themselves on social issues.