Press association leader Cheng sues Wall Street Journal for 'unreasonable dismissal'

Staff reporter

A former Wall Street Journal reporter initiated legal proceedings against the American newspaper for "unreasonable dismissal" yesterday, claiming she was fired for taking on a leadership role in a Hong Kong press union.

Selina Cheng, who had been reporting on the Chinese electric vehicle industry, was let go in July, shortly after her election as chairwoman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association.

Cheng said that upon her dismissal, her supervisor remarked that the Journal's employees "should not be seen as advocating for press freedom in a place like Hong Kong."

She pursued legal action after her internal complaint received no updates or responses, and her request for reinstatement was denied.

"I believe The Wall Street Journal has caused irreparable harm to both my reputation and that of the Hong Kong Journalists Association," Cheng said after filing a civil claim with the Labour Department.

Also, she plans to file a criminal report against the newspaper under the city's employment law, alongside her civil claim.

If found guilty of terminating an employee due to trade union membership, the employer could face a fine of up to HK$100,000.

Cheng joined The Wall Street Journal in April 2022 and was elected as HKJA chairwoman on June 22 this year, taking office on July 1 and succeeding Ronson Chan Ron-sing.

She previously worked with the investigative team at local news outlet HK01 and the Hong Kong Free Press.

The HKJA, a legally registered trade union, has faced criticism from government officials, including Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung, who accused it of inciting violence and hatred against authorities during the 2019 social unrest.