Chair of Hong Kong press union Selina Cheng fired by Wall Street Journal, says paper urged her to quit group

Selina Cheng was elected chair of Hong Kong's embattled Hong Kong Journalist Association (HKJA) Cheng said she was “appalled’ that her first press conference as head of the HKJA was one to announce that she “was fired for taking up this position in a press union” Cheng said the company had told her that employees of The Wall Street 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.”.

HKJA chair Cheng was told on Wednesday that her job was “eliminated due to restructuring” Cheng ’s position was terminated with immediate effect on Wednesday morning .

She reminded her editors that becoming an officer of a union is legally protected in Hong Kong .

The HKJA said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon that it was disappointed and outraged” by The Wall Street Journal's decision.

Hong Kong has plummeted in international press freedom indices since the onset of the security law.

Watchdogs cite the arrest of journalists, raids on newsrooms and the closure of around 10 media outlets.

Government-funded broadcaster RTHK has adopted new editorial guidelines, purged its archives and axed news and satirical shows.