Hong Kong Court Convicts Dow Jones of Deterring Journalist from Union Role, Acquits on Dismissal

Former Wall Street Journal reporter Selina Cheng spoke to reporters outside the Eastern Law Courts in Hong Kong on September 10, 2026. A Hong Kong court has convicted Dow Jones for attempting to deter a journalist from taking a union role, while acquitting the publisher on the charge of dismissal over the position, in a legal case that has highlighted growing concerns regarding media freedom in the city.

Selina Cheng, who was dismissed by the Wall Street Journal in July 2024, had accused the newspaper’s publisher Dow Jones of unlawfully terminating her employment due to her role as chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and of trying to stop her from standing for the union position.

On Thursday, the court found the company guilty of attempting to prevent Selina Cheng from exercising her right to run for the union chairmanship. However, the judge accepted Dow Jones’ argument that her termination was the result of corporate restructuring rather than her leadership position within the HKJA.

Hong Kong labour laws protect the right to participate in trade unions, and employers found guilty of prevention or deterrence charges face fines of up to 100,000 Hong Kong dollars, equivalent to $12,755.

Speaking to reporters outside the court following the ruling, Selina Cheng stated that the safety of reporters is compromised if employment rights are inadequately safeguarded or if violations go unenforced by the law.

The presiding judge noted that the company's demand for Selina Cheng to obtain prior permission before accepting a union role constituted an unjustified deterrent against her rights.

In response to the verdict, Dow Jones expressed disagreement with the ruling and indicated it was evaluating its next steps. A spokesperson emphasized the Wall Street Journal's legacy as an employer in Hong Kong, stating that the organization has consistently respected local labour laws, supported employee rights, and produced impartial journalism about the region.

Sentencing in the case is scheduled for a later date. Selina Cheng initiated a private prosecution last year concerning her termination after an initial complaint filed with the Labour Department did not lead to formal charges.

Established in 1968, the HKJA remains Hong Kong’s oldest journalists’ organisation and stands as one of the few remaining advocates for media rights in the city. International rankings and HKJA surveys indicate that media freedom in Hong Kong has faced increasing pressure, leading to the disbandment of numerous independent news outlets since Beijing enacted a national security law in 2020 following pro-democracy protests.