Hong Kong court convicts Dow Jones Publishing in union-rights case involving Wall Street Journal reporter

A Hong Kong court has convicted Dow Jones Publishing of deterring a reporter from taking up a trade union role, in a case that has drawn attention to press freedom and labour rights in the city. The ruling concerns Selina Cheng, a former Wall Street Journal reporter who was dismissed after becoming chair of the Hong Kong Journalist Association in 2024. The court cleared the company of a second charge, leaving one conviction in place and one acquittal.

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Principal magistrate David Cheung found that Dow Jones Publishing was guilty of preventing or deterring an employee from exercising trade union rights. He acquitted the company of dismissing or discriminating against Cheng because she exercised those rights. The case was brought by Cheng herself after she lost her job in July 2024, weeks after taking on the union post.

Cheng said her editor had told her that employees should not be seen as advocating for press freedom in places such as Hong Kong, because that could be viewed as a conflict of interest. She also said the company had asked her to seek approval for outside activities and requested that she leave her board position at the association. Dow Jones pleaded not guilty to both charges, which each carry a maximum fine of HK$100,000, or about $12,750.

The ruling matters because it sits at the intersection of employment law, union rights and media independence in Hong Kong. Cheng's case has become a test of how far employers can go in restricting staff involvement in professional associations and trade union activity. It also comes at a time when scrutiny of press freedom in the city remains high, particularly when cases involve international media organisations and journalists covering sensitive issues.

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During the trial, the defence argued that Cheng was dismissed because of redundancy and said the prosecution had not proved that management instructed her supervisor. The defence also accused Cheng of acting in bad faith in an earlier hearing. Magistrate Cheung rejected that account, saying Cheng's termination was motivated by a wrongful and unjustified application of the company's code of conduct when it insisted she needed prior approval to stand as chair of the Hong Kong Journalist Association.

Cheung said he accepted Cheng's explanation and described her as honest and reliable, adding that she was clearly motivated by a wish to see justice. Sentencing will be handed down later, and the size of any penalty remains unknown. What remains unclear is whether the company will appeal, and whether the ruling will affect other disputes over union activity and outside roles in Hong Kong's media sector.

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