Hong Kong court convicts Wall Street Journal publisher over union role
Dow Jones was found guilty of blocking former reporter Selina Cheng from becoming a press union head, but cleared of unlawfully firing her.
In a recent Hong Kong court ruling, Dow Jones, the publisher of the Wall Street Journal, was found guilty of attempting to prevent journalist Selina Cheng from serving as the head of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA). However, the company was acquitted of charges alleging it unlawfully fired Cheng in July 2024. Cheng had refused editor demands to sever ties with the HKJA and advocate for press freedom.
Principal Magistrate Cheung Chi-wai David ruled that Dow Jones deliberately obstructed Cheng's right to run for chairperson of the HKJA, a statutory trade union, based on her refusal to obtain approval for the role. The court found no evidence to convict Dow Jones on the unlawful termination charge, as Cheng's dismissal may have been part of a legitimate corporate restructuring.
Dow Jones pleaded not guilty to both charges, each carrying a potential HK$100,000 fine. The verdict comes amid increased government crackdown on press freedom and pro-democracy media outlets in Hong Kong.
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- Hong Kong court convicts Wall Street Journal publisher over union role freemalaysiatoday.com
