Hong Kong Court Finds Dow Jones Guilty of Hindering Journalist’s Union Participation
A Hong Kong magistrate convicted Dow Jones Publishing of deterring former reporter Selina Cheng from a union role, while acquitting it of dismissal charges.
In a Thursday hearing, a Hong Kong magistrate ruled that Dow Jones Publishing Co. (Asia) Inc. violated the city’s Employment Ordinance by discouraging Selina Cheng, a former one outlet reporter and chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, from standing for a union post. The court acquitted the publisher of the related dismissal charge, accepting the defense’s argument that her termination was due to redundancy and that there was no proof senior management ordered the supervisor’s actions.
Cheng’s private prosecution followed her July 2024 termination, which had sparked concern among journalists about mounting pressure on foreign media outlets. The case underscores the continuing erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong since the 2020 national security law, echoing earlier shutdowns of Apple Daily and Stand News. Sentencing for the conviction is pending. The ruling adds another legal setback for media workers seeking union representation.
