A Wall Street Journal reporter and a freelance reporter have been elected as the new chair and vice-chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association on Saturday as outgoing leader Ronson Chan Ron-sing called on the body to continue to defend freedom of press.

Selina Cheng from the WSJ and Leung Yiu-chung, a student member from the Hong Kong Shue Yan University, will assume office on July 1.

Another 10 executive committee members were also elected. One of them included BBC journalist Danny Vincent, who had expressed his wish to withdraw from the election but in vain since the association doesn’t have such a mechanism.

When asked about reasons for withdrawing from the election, Chan quoted Vincent saying there were certain “difficulties” but didn’t disclose further information.

The association later confirmed Vincent and another committee member Cheung Ho-ming both resigned after being elected.

Chan added that 111 members voted in today’s election and eight votes were ruled invalid. He mentioned that the association now has about 300 members – about two thirds less compared to its heyday. Still, he believes the association remains a representative union.

Chan described the association’s relationship with the police as “a long story” but added that the association has channels to communicate with them.

Before today’s meeting, police had asked if the association needed any assistance and the association also clearly explained the procedures of today’s meeting to them, he said.

Chan understands some citizens may have a bad impression of him but hopes this won’t affect the association and citizens can get to know the association again after he steps down as chairman, allowing the body to perform its role as a union.

The outgoing leader also said journalists who wish to become a member need not to worry about breaking the law, adding that the association remains a lawful union.

Chan also responded to criticism by security minister Chris Tang Ping-keung that the association is not a representative body and stressed that the association is a registered union and renews its member list annually in a serious manner.

The subject of the recognition of the association should be governed by the Registry of Trade Unions and doesn’t involve any security matters, he added.

Photo obtained from the Facebook page of the HKJA. (Internet)

New leaders for Journalists Association elected as outgoing chair defends body’s representativeness