Freelance journalist Selina Cheng re-elected chair of Hong Kong's embattled Journalists Association
Cheng was elected at the association's Annual General Meeting in Jordan, having secured 89 votes, with no member voting against or abstaining.
The new 2025-26 Executive Committee consists of four members.
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 Court of Appeal also ruled in the union's favour in a case involving a satirical show axed by government-funded broadcaster RTHK.
As of June 13, the association had 323 members in total, compared to 338 a year ago. It gained 57 new members since 2024, whilst 87 memberships expired, according to its report to members.
Embattled association
The city's largest press union has met with increasing pressure from authorities over recent years. During the protests and unrest in 2019, pro-Beijing figures accused it of smearing the police, allowing 'fake journalists' to join, and protecting protesters – accusations it denied. Last year, security chief Chris In February, Tang claimed the HKJA was 'unrepresentative.'
Cheng has overseen another tumultuous year for the embattled 57-year-old union.
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.
In February, the HKJA said its venue booking for their annual fundraising gala was cancelled by Eaton HK hotel, with no reason given. It came after the Regal Hongkong Hotel in Causeway Bay axed the union's venue booking, citing 'water leakage causing unstable power supply.'
The union went on to enjoy its ' best fundraising results ' in years, with the event going ahead online.
Cheng herself appeared in court in February, accusing her ex-employer, The Wall Street Journal, of breaching the city's laws protecting employees' right to join union activities by firing her after she first took on the union's leadership role in 2024.
Press freedom
Hong Kong has plummeted in international press freedom indices since the onset of the 2020 and 2024 security laws. Watchdogs cite the arrest and jailing of journalists, raids on newsrooms and the closure of around 10 media outlets including Apple Daily, Stand News and Citizen News. Over 1,000 journalists have lost their jobs, whilst many have emigrated. Meanwhile, the city's government-funded broadcaster RTHK has adopted new editorial guidelines, purged its archives and axed news and satirical shows.
In 2022, Chief Executive John Lee said press freedom was 'in the pocket' of Hongkongers but 'nobody is above the law.' Although he has told the press to ' tell a good Hong Kong story,' government departments have been reluctant to respond to story pitches.
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