Voices Amidst the Smoke—Social Workers against Police Brutality in Hong Kong

• Published in: The British journal of social work 2022-09, Vol.52 (6), p.3522-3539
• Main Authors: Leung, Zeno C S, Lam, C W, Cheng, Carl Yuk Tin, Ng, Yut-Ming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Excessive force; Occupational roles; Police; Police brutality; Police community relations; Social conflict; Social groups; Social unrest; Social workers; Violence; Voices
• ISSN: 0045-3102; 1468-263X
• DOI: 10.1093/bjsw/bcab257

Social unrest occurred across the latter half of 2019 through to early 2020 in Hong Kong. It changed the lives of many Hongkongers, and also changed the identities of a group of social workers in the city. Initiated by the Hong Kong Social Workers’ General Union, around 140 social workers organised themselves into the ‘Battlefield Social Workers’. Their voices were often heard at the frontier of scenes of social conflict that were full of smoke caused by tear gas shells and other firearms used by the police. Whilst the protesters and police officers were in extremely tense situations, such voices that were trying to calm people down posed a huge contrast. In this study, the authors have interviewed twenty-two Battlefield Social Workers. Their experiences on the ‘battlefront’ were investigated, with special attention paid to their perceptions of what social workers had done against police brutality. The findings and discussions are considered to have brought insights on social workers’ roles in an increasingly turbulent world. Social unrest occurred across the latter half of 2019 through to early 2020 in Hong Kong had changed the lives of many Hongkongers. It also changed the identities of a group of social workers—the ‘Battlefield Social Workers’. Their voices were often heard at the frontier of scenes of social conflict. In this study, the authors have interviewed twenty-two Battlefield Social Workers and their experiences on the ‘battlefront’ were investigated, with special attention paid to their perceptions of what social workers had done against police brutality. They consider what they have done revived the missions and identities of social workers in this city, reminding them of something that they should pursue and work on further.