Hong Kong Psychological Society halts naming misconduct cases

The Hong Kong Psychological Society has decided not to publicly name psychologists accused of misconduct due to fears of legal issues. This has raised concerns among some, especially after a recent case where a psychologist was rehired despite a substantiated complaint against her. In September 2023, a resident with mental illness reported her counsellor to the society. By December, the society confirmed that many of the allegations were valid. However, despite the seriousness of the case, the society has not disclosed the psychologist’s name or the details of the misconduct, which was expected to be made available to warn the public. According to the complainant, the society had planned to announce the findings on its website. However, the society stated that it stopped sharing details of such cases in 2023 due to ongoing legal challenges. They indicated that any announcement regarding the case will be put on hold until they resolve the legal issues involved.