Azan (with Nigel Kat KC and Nicklaus Pannu Yuon) acted for Cheng in a private prosecution, accusing the Wall Street Journal's parent company, Dow Jones Publishing Co (Asia), of violating the Employment Ordinance.

Cheng, the head of Hong Kong Journalists Association, also a former reporter at The Wall Street Journal, initially filed a complaint against Dow Jones Publishing Co (Asia) with the Labour Department (“the Department”) last November inviting them to prosecute. However, the Department opted not to pursue legal action against the parent company following legal advice from the Department of Justice.

Cheng accordingly commenced a private prosecution, alleging that the parent company dismissed her from exercising her union rights as an officer, which contravened the Employment Ordinance. Additionally, she lodged a second charge against the parent company for purportedly obstructing or deterring her from fulfilling her role as a union officer in June 2024.

At the first hearing, The Department of Justice applied for an eight-week adjournment to consider whether to intervene in the case. The defendant also requested an adjournment before plea is taken so that it can consider and take advice on the evidence and law.

The case has been adjourned to 22nd April at 2:30 pm in Eastern Magistrates’ Court for mention.

It is reported in SCMP.

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