A landmark employment case unfolding in Hong Kong’s court system has drawn international attention to press freedom and workers’ rights in the territory. Former Wall Street Journal reporter Selina Cheng commenced testimony Monday against her former employer, alleging unlawful termination due to her union activities.
Cheng, who previously served as chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, initiated a private prosecution against Dow Jones Publishing Co. (Asia) Inc. following her dismissal in July 2024. She contends that her termination resulted from her refusal to comply with supervisory instructions to withdraw from union leadership elections, contradicting the company’s stated rationale of organizational restructuring.
Dow Jones faces dual charges under Hong Kong’s Employment Ordinance, both carrying potential fines of HK$100,000 (approximately $12,850) per violation. The first charge alleges the company prevented or deterred union participation, while the second claims the organization penalized an employee for exercising union rights.
The proceedings took a contentious turn when company representative Benson Tsoi accused Cheng of acting in bad faith, presenting email evidence suggesting she had sought a HK$3 million settlement or reinstatement with formal apology. Tsoi argued these communications demonstrated an attempt to leverage the judicial process despite Cheng’s previous assertions to the Labor Tribunal regarding out-of-court settlement intentions.
This case emerges against a backdrop of significant media environment changes in Hong Kong. The territory, once celebrated as Asia’s bastion of press freedom, has experienced notable restrictions following Beijing’s implementation of the national security law in 2020. Several prominent media outlets including Apple Daily and Stand News have ceased operations following arrests of senior staff, while multiple journalists have faced convictions under various legal provisions.
Hong Kong’s standing in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index has dramatically declined from 80th position in 2021 to 140th out of 180 countries and territories in the most recent assessment, reflecting the challenging environment facing journalists in the city.