Without opposition, freelance journalist Selena Cheng has been reelected as the chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (Hong Kong Free Press, June 14, 2025). Which is embattled.
According to the committee’s annual report to members, over the past year, the union has supported members facing tax audits, conducted a press freedom survey, held fundraisers, social events and workshops and launched an investigation into the harassment of journalists….
The city’s largest press union has met with increasing pressure from authorities over recent years….
Last month, it emerged that Hong Kong’s independent news sector, including companies, staff and family members, were facing simultaneous tax audits and backdated demands, according to the HKJA which has also been facing an audit. The situation reflected a worsening press freedom environment, they said, whilst the government said cases were handled without bias.
HKJA had to hold its annual fundraiser online this year after two hotels in a row cancelled bookings for the event. We can guess that they did so because press freedom has been under fire in Hong Kong, even though the managements of the hotels have not publicly acknowledged such a motive.
Cheng is freelancer these days because in July 2024, The Wall Street Journal fired her to appease the Chinese government after she first accepted leadership of HKJA. The Journal denies that this was its reason, even though an editor had warned Cheng not to accept the position.
“The editor said employees of the Journal should not be seen as advocating for press freedom in a place like Hong Kong, even though they can in Western countries, where it is already established,” Cheng said at the time.
