### Social Workers Registration Ordinance 《社會工作者註冊條例》

12. Delegations
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Board may, with or without restrictions as it thinks fit, delegate in writing any of its functions or powers to—
(a) any member of the Board;
(b) any committee (including a disciplinary committee);
(c) the Registrar;
(d) any employee of the Board.
(2) The Board shall not delegate any of its functions or powers under—
(a) subsection (1) or section 8(1)(a), 9, 10, 19, 25(3) or (4), 26(1) or (2), 27(1), (8) or (9), 30 or 38;
(b) any provisions of any rules made under section 9(1) which are specified in the rules as provisions which shall not be subject to subsection (1);
(c) any provisions of Schedule 1 which are specified in that Schedule as provisions which shall not be subject to subsection (1).
(3) A delegate of the Board—
(a) shall perform the delegated functions and may exercise the delegated powers as if the delegate were the Board; and
(b) shall be presumed to be acting in accordance with the relevant delegation in the absence of evidence to the contrary.

13. Protection of members of Board, etc.
(1) No person to whom this subsection applies, acting in good faith, shall be personally liable in damages for any act done or default made in the performance or purported performance of any function, or the exercise or purported exercise of any power, imposed or conferred on the Board under this Ordinance.
(2) The protection conferred under subsection (1) on any person to whom that subsection applies in respect of any act or default shall not in any way affect the liability of the Board for that act or default.
(3) The persons to whom subsection (1) applies are—
(a) any member of the Board or a committee (including a disciplinary committee);
(b) the Registrar;
(c) any employee of the Board.

14. No fees payable to Board members
No fees shall be paid to any member of the Board for his services as a member.

15. Appointment and duties of Registrar
(1) The Board shall appoint a person to be the Registrar upon such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
(2) The Registrar shall—
(a) be responsible for the custody of the Register; and
(b) serve as secretary to the Board and, subject to any rules made by the Board, any committee (including a disciplinary committee).

### Social Workers Registration Ordinance 《社會工作者註冊條例》

16. Form of Register
(1) The Registrar shall, in accordance with the directions of the Board, keep the Register in 2 parts of which—
(a) part 1 shall contain in respect of every registered social worker (category 1)—
(i) his name and address;
(ii) the qualification on which his registration is based; and
(iii) any other details that the Board may direct;
(b) part 2 shall contain in respect of every registered social worker (category 2)—
(i) his name and address;
(ii) the qualification on which his registration is based; and
(iii) any other details that the Board may direct.
(2) The Register shall be available to any person for inspection free of charge at the office of the Board at such reasonable times as the Board may direct.
(3) A person whose name is entered in the Register shall within 3 months notify the Registrar of any change in the particulars prescribed by subsection (1).

### Social Workers Registration Ordinance 《社會工作者註冊條例》

17. Qualifications for registration
(1) The Board shall not register a person as a registered social worker (category 1) unless he—
(a) is the holder of a degree or diploma in social work recognized by the Board for the purposes of this subsection; or
(b) satisfies the Board that he has—
(i) occupied a social work post not later than 31 March 1982; and
(ii) subsequent to that date, occupied a social work post or posts for not less than 10 years, whether or not continuously.
(2) The Board shall not register a person as a registered social worker (category 2) unless he satisfies the Board that—
(a) he currently occupies a social work post or has been accepted for such a post; and
(b) if he is so registered, he proposes to obtain a recognized degree or diploma in social work within a period which is reasonable in all the circumstances.
(3) No person shall be registered as a registered social worker unless at the time of application for registration he is—
(a) ordinarily resident in Hong Kong;
(b) a fit and proper person to be registered; and
(c) not subject to a disciplinary order which precludes him from being registered.
(4) Without limiting the generality of subsection (3)(b), the Board—
(a) may refuse to register a person as a registered social worker who has been convicted in Hong Kong or elsewhere of any offence which—
(i) may bring the profession of social worker into disrepute; and
(ii) is punishable with imprisonment (and whether or not the person was sentenced to imprisonment);
(b) subject to subsection (5), shall refuse to register a person as a registered social worker who has been—
(i) convicted in Hong Kong of any offence coming within any of the descriptions specified in Schedule 2; or
(ii) convicted elsewhere of any offence where the act or omission constituting the offence, if the act or omission had occurred in Hong Kong, would constitute an offence referred to in subparagraph (i).
(5) A person may be registered as a social worker notwithstanding that he has been convicted of an offence referred to in subsection (4)(b) if, but only if, all the members for the time being of the Board, after considering all the circumstances of the case, resolve that he be so registered.
(6) Subsections (2)(b), (3)(b) and (4)(a) shall apply to a person who was registered before the relevant date as they apply to a person registered on or after that date, and section 20(4) shall be construed accordingly.

18. Application for registration
A person shall apply for registration as a registered social worker—
(a) to the Registrar; and
(b) in the specified form.

### Social Workers Registration Ordinance 《社會工作者註冊條例》

19. Acceptance and refusal of registration
(1) The Board may accept or reject an application for registration or renewal of registration.
(2) Where the Board accepts or rejects an application for registration or renewal of registration, the Registrar shall act in accordance with rules made by the Board.
(3) Where the Board rejects an application for registration or renewal of registration, it shall notify the applicant of the rejection and the reasons therefor.

20. Expiry of registration and renewal
(1) The entry in the Register of a person as a registered social worker—
(a) shall remain in force for 12 months from the date when he was registered;
(b) may be renewed annually by application of the person so registered.
(2) A registered social worker shall apply for renewal of registration as a registered social worker—
(a) to the Registrar;
(b) in the specified form; and
(c) not earlier than 3 months and not later than 28 days prior to the expiry of the current registration.
(3) If a registered social worker does not apply for renewal of registration before the expiry of his current registration—
(a) the Registrar shall, on the expiry of the current registration, note in the Register that registration has not been renewed; and
(b) the person shall be deemed not to be currently on the Register from the date of expiry of his registration.
(4) The Board may reject an application for renewal of registration if it is satisfied that the applicant does not continue to comply with the requirements for registration set out in section 17 (except section 17(1)(a), including that section as modified by the provisions of Schedule 1 at any time before the relevant date) and, in such case, the Board shall notify the applicant of the rejection and the reasons therefor.
(5) Where a registered social worker fails to renew his registration within time, the Board may extend time for renewal of registration if the registered social worker makes an application to the Board therefor.
(6) If the registration of a registered social worker has expired, the Board may require him to reapply for registration instead of renewing his registration.

21. Certificate of registration
The Registrar shall issue to each registered social worker a certificate of registration or a certificate of renewal of registration in the specified form.