The new chairperson of the Social Workers Registration Board, Herman Hui, on Friday said he sees no differences between anyone on the reformed statutory body, whether they are appointed or elected.

After taking an oath of allegiance to the SAR on Friday, Hui pledged to help the board stay on task, enhance the recognition and professional status of registered social workers, and make the board more transparent.

One of the priorities will be establishing a mechanism to handle social workers convicted of national security crimes and other serious offences, Hui added.

"On whether people who have been convicted of serious offences are suitable to be social workers, we must make decisions based on the law. If the law says there are special circumstances, we will ask others on the board to consider if certain people are special cases and if they can continue to be registered as social workers," he said.

All but one of the elected board members recently resigned, but Hui said there's no difference between appointees and those who are voted onto the body.

"I think the remaining elected board member is no different than the others. We are all serving the community and the board. I don't see any difference in that," he said.

"Another urgent matter for me to carry out immediately is to arrange for the coming term's elections to elect new members."

Oscar Lai, the sole remaining elected board member, said he believed Hui is capable of chairing the body.

"I had worked with him in some youth uniformed groups, and I thought he's a reasonable person. I hope he could lead the board out of this difficult situation," Lai said.

Lawmaker Connie Lam, who's also a registered social worker, said the new appointees could help the statutory body.

"Some of them are actually very experienced social workers in the field. They have a lot of network," she said.

"They can give their experience to the board, and enhance the professional development of our board."

Social welfare sector legislator Tik Chi-yuen, for his part, said prioritising the election of board members would make the body's structure more comprehensive.