Hong Kong journalist Selina Cheng (鄭嘉如), the chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) who contends that she was illegally dismissed in July last year by the Wall Street Journal after her election to her HKJA position, appeared in Eastern Magistrates’ Court Tuesday through legal representatives in her private prosecution against her former employer. According to the court reporting outlet The Witness (法庭線), Cheng’s case involves two charges claiming her employer demanded she withdraw from the HKJA election and later terminated her employment for holding the position. Barrister Ma Ah-shan (馬亞山) represented Cheng in the proceedings, which were adjourned until July 2 by Principal Magistrate So Man-lung (蘇文隆). Hong Kong’s Department of Justice reportedly has requested additional time to consider intervention in the case — possibly considering its unwanted visibility on the question of deteriorating press freedoms in Hong Kong.
